Separately bottle means money generally and particularly loose coinage, from the custom of passing a bottle for people to give money to a busker or street entertainer. The modern form of farthing was first recorded in English around 1280 when it altered from ferthing to farthing. Therefore one quid, five quid, fifty quid. Origins of dib/dibs/dibbs are uncertain but probably relate to the old (early 1800s) children's game of dibs or dibstones played with the knuckle-bones of sheep or pebbles. The 'where there's much there's brass' expression helped maintain and spread the populairity iof the 'brass' money slang, rather than cause it. No other language in the world has been as bastardised as this one! Blicky - a handgun (word is US in origin). South African tickey and variations - also meaning 'small' - are first recorded in the 19th century from uncertain roots (according to Partridge and Cassells) - take your pick: African distorted interpretation of 'ticket' or 'threepenny'; from Romany tikeno and tikno (meaning small); from Dutch stukje (meaning a little bit); from Hindustani taka (a stamped silver coin); and/or from early Portuguese 'pataca' and French 'patac' (meaning what?.. Also used regularly is a 'score' which is 20, a 'bullseye' is 50, a 'grand' is 1,000 and a 'deep sea diver' which is 5 (a fiver). More recently (1900s) the slang 'a quarter' has transfered to twenty-five pounds. The term was coined by British soldiers returning from India where the 500 rupee note of that era had a picture of a monkey on it. Barmy. Cockney Money Slang. Cassells also suggests possible connection with 'spondylo-' referring to spine or vertebrae, based on the similarity between a stack of coins and a spine, which is referenced in etymologist Michael Quinion's corespondence with a Doug Wilson, which cites the reference to piled coins (and thereby perhaps the link to sponylo/spine) thus: "Spondulics - coin piled for counting" from the 1867 book A Manual of the Art of Prose Composition: For the Use of Colleges and Schools, by John Mitchell Bonnell. Plural uses singular form, eg., 'Fifteen quid is all I want for it..', or 'I won five hundred quid on the horses yesterday..'. brass = money. 'Half a job' was half a guinea. Filters. Some non-slang words are included where their origins are particularly interesting, as are some interesting slang money expressions which originated in other parts of the world, and which are now entering the English language. Coppers was very popular slang pre-decimalisation (1971), and is still used in referring to modern pennies and two-penny coins, typically describing the copper (coloured) coins in one's pocket or change, or piggy bank. EXPLANATION: While this London-centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th Century India. The ten pound meaning of cock and hen is 20th century rhyming slang. sprat/spratt = sixpence (6d). The word mill is derived simply from the Latin 'millisimus' meaning a thousandth, and is not anything to do with the milled edge of a coin. Probably related to 'motsa' below. Popularity of this slang word was increased by comedian Harry Enfield. Ned was seemingly not pluralised when referring to a number of guineas, eg., 'It'll cost you ten ned..' A half-ned was half a guinea. Grand - a thousand (colloquial) usually referring to money. EXPLANATION: Although this London-centric slang is completely British, it is actually from India in the nineteenth century. A person who is easily deceived or victimized: butt, dupe, fool, gull, lamb, pushover, victim. US and Canadian slang. (Thanks M Ty-Wharton). If you think we've missed anything let us know by commenting below. Dope - Awesome. Please be careful using any of these terms as many are considered either sexist or offensive or both. Play it by ear - proceed instinctively according to circumstances. You can use it to refer to a person or an object. It is also used to express shock, awe, and/or amazement. 4. the head of a pile-driver ( monkey engine) or of some similar mechanical device. Brummie - native of Birmingham (colloquial). EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Queen mum- Cockney rhyming slang for bum. The 'tanner' slang was later reinforced (Ack L Bamford) via jocular reference to a biblical extract about St Peter lodging with Simon, a tanner (of hides). Chunder. Shrapnel conventionally means artillery shell fragments, so called from the 2nd World War, after the inventor of the original shrapnel shell, Henry Shrapnel, who devised a shell filled with pellets and explosive powder c.1806. Folding green is more American than UK slang. pair of nickers/pair of knickers/pair o'nickers = two pounds (2), an irresistible pun. For ex: I hate going out with John, hes such a penny-pincher that he never offers to buy everyone a round of drinks at the pub. Odds and sods - this and that; bits and pieces. deuce = two pounds, and much earlier (from the 1600s) tuppence (two old pence, 2d), from the French deus and Latin duos meaning two (which also give us the deuce term in tennis, meaning two points needed to win). Scouser - native of Liverpool (colloquial). Your response is private Was this worth your time? The expression is interpreted into Australian and New Zealand money slang as deener, again meaning shilling. sir isaac = one pound (1) - used in Hampshire (Southern England) apparently originating from the time when the one pound note carried a picture of Sir Isaac Newton. What I mean is that this once mighty British Empire that more or less covered a quarter of the world's land surface could not ever have imagined that English would evolve to almost a million words - and almost every single one of them would be . shrapnel = loose change, especially a heavy and inconvenient pocketful, as when someone repays a small loan in lots of coins. "No more monkeying around! Also used regularly is a 'score ' which is. Toodle pip - archaic, posh form for "goodbye". . From the 1960s, becoming widely used in the 1970s. "The company fired its accountant because there was some monkey business going on with the accounts. Monkey Emoji is a very simple emoji usually used for its literal meaning when talking about wild and funny animals such as monkeys. The word derives from Middle English and Middle Dutch 'groot' meaning 'great' since this coin was a big one, compared to a penny. Double click on any word for its definition. Traditional IPA: mki ", "If he does not resign as chairman of the council after all the mess he has made, I'll be a monkey's uncle.". The term coppers is also slang for a very small amount of money, or a cost of something typically less than a pound, usually referring to a bargain or a sum not worth thinking about, somewhat like saying 'peanuts' or 'a row of beans'. Backslang also contributes several slang money words. greens = money, usually old-style green coloured pound notes, but actully applying to all money or cash-earnings since the slang derives from the cockney rhyming slang: 'greengages' (= wages). ABC Education brings you high-quality educational content to use at home and in the classroom. Now sadly gone in the UK for this particular meaning, although lots of other meanings remain (for example the verb or noun meaning of pooh, a haircut, and the verb meaning of cheat). These, and the rhyming head connection, are not factual origins of how ned became a slang money term; they are merely suggestions of possible usage origin and/or reinforcement. Bronze (term to describe the one and two pound coins) 4. For ex: Susan just had a new extension built onto her house, its beautiful but it must have cost her an arm and a leg! Rosie - Cockney rhyming slang for tea from "Rosie Lee.". wonga = money. ton = commonly one hundred pounds (100). EXPLANATION: While this London-centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th Century India. Try English Trackers' professional editing and rewriting service. Wow. Brass Monkey Weather. mill = a million dollars or a million pounds. Seymour created the classic 1973 Hovis TV advert featuring the baker's boy delivering bread from a bike on an old cobbled hill in a North England town, to the theme of Dvorak's New World symphony played by a brass band. Jiffy - a very short time, a moment as in "Back in a jiffy.". Verb. Arvo - Afternoon ( S'Arvo - this afternoon!) With dictionary look up. Also referred to money generally, from the late 1600s, when the slang was based simply on a metaphor of coal being an essential commodity for life. Also relates to (but not necessairly derived from) the expression especially used by children, 'dibs' meaning a share or claim of something, and dibbing or dipping among a group of children, to determine shares or winnings or who would be 'it' for a subsequent chasing game. "Some silver will do." Bung - as a verb meaning to throw as a noun, or a bribe. In the US a ned was a ten dollar gold coin, and a half-ned was a five dollar coin. 20 is sometimes referred to as a score, although strictly this is not a slang term for money, as score is a normal word for twenty. Ape and monkey are considered offensive terms when they're used to describe a person of color. Equivalent to 12p in decimal money. Copyright 2023. 11. You can find out more about that in this, Pavarotti he was a famous tenor so a Pavarotti is a tenner (10), If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this. Narrowboat - canal boat of long, narrow design, steered with a tiller. Let us walk you through some of the most popular Spanish slang words and phrases throughout Latin America and Europe. There is also a view that Joey transferred from the threepenny bit to the sixpence when the latter became a more usual minimum fare in London taxi-cabs. Vest - (usually) sleeveless, cotton undershirt. job = guinea, late 1600s, probably ultimately derived from from the earlier meaning of the word job, a lump or piece (from 14th century English gobbe), which developed into the work-related meaning of job, and thereby came to have general meaning of payment for work, including specific meaning of a guinea. From the Hebrew word and Israeli monetary unit 'shekel' derived in Hebrew from the silver coin 'sekel' in turn from the word for weight 'sakal'. 'More fun than a barrel of monkeys' means to have a lot of fun. Cockwomble - foolish or obnoxious person. flim/flimsy = five pounds (5), early 1900s, so called because of the thin and flimsy paper on which five pound notes of the time were printed. The coin was not formally demonetised until 31 August 1971 at the time of decimalisation. a monkey foresail. Similar words for coins and meanings are found all over Europe. 6. He had been visiting an area zoo when a monkey swung from its tree perch, swiped his glasses and hurled them into a . Piece - piece of bread, sandwich (Glaswegian). EXPLANATION: While this London-centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th Century India. When you monkey around, or monkey with something, you fool about or fiddle with it. Ye - archaic spelling for "the" - the definite article or archaic for "your" - possessive pronoun. foont/funt = a pound (1), from the mid-1900s, derived from the German word 'pfund' for the UK pound. He is just being a cheeky monkey.". Sassenach - non-Highlander (usually referring to the English). In the US a nickel is more commonly a five cent coin. Baccy: shortened word for "tobacco;" also, "wacky backy" means marijuana. Other suggestions connecting the word pony with money include the Old German word 'poniren' meaning to pay, and a strange expression from the early 1800s, "There's no touching her, even for a poney [sic]," which apparently referred to a widow, Mrs Robinson, both of which appear in a collection of 'answers to correspondents' sent by readers and published by the Daily Mail in the 1990s. Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London . Hamsterkaufing - stockpiling or hoarding before a Covid-19 lockdown. The large Australian 'wonga' pigeon is almost certainly unrelated yennep/yenep/yennap/yennop = a penny (1d particularly, although also means a decimal penny, 1p). Pub - public house, drinking establishment. gelt/gelter = money, from the late 1600s, with roots in foreign words for gold, notably German and Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) gelt, and Dutch and South African geld. a naughty or mischievous person, esp a child. In parts of the US 'bob' was used for the US dollar coin. Originated in the USA in the 1920s, logically an association with the literal meaning - full or large. Rows - Medieval galleried, timber walkways above a lower level of shops inChester. Bread - money from Cockney rhyming slang "bread and honey" = money. 8. It is conceivable that the use also later transferred for a while to a soverign and a pound, being similar currency units, although I'm not aware of specific evidence of this. (Thanks P Jones, June 2008). Spondoolicks is possibly from Greek, according to Cassells - from spondulox, a type of shell used for early money. The first things you gotta learn are that five pounds is a fiver, and ten pounds is a tenner. (Thanks to R Maguire for raising this one.). chip = a shilling (1/-) and earlier, mid-late 1800s a pound or a sovereign. Fag - cigarette, "ciggie", hence fag end (stub) and fag packet. A penny-pincher is someone who is unwilling to spend money. Iechyd da! In fact arguably the modern term 'silver' equates in value to 'coppers' of a couple of generations ago. caser/case = five shillings (5/-), a crown coin. Usage of bob for shilling dates back to the late 1700s. Used either to show sympathy, or to soften an insult. He was referring to the fact that the groat's production ceased from 1662 and then restarted in 1835, (or 1836 according to other sources). Exactly when the words became slurs is unknown, but offensive comparisons of black people to apes date back hundreds of centuries. As well as quid, we have a whole series of words that we use to refer to money, such as: Dosh is uncountable, so you cant have doshes! Dogging - slang for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so. Joey - 3d or threepence. Like most languages, English has its fair share of slang terms related to a variety of topics and money is no exception. The word cows means a single pound since technically the word is cow's, from cow's licker. Meaning: used to describe a person who is mischievous or silly. In South Africa the various spellings refer to a SA threepenny piece, and now the equivalent SA post-decimalisation 2 cents coin. deaner/dena/denar/dener = a shilling (1/-), from the mid-1800s, derived from association with the many European dinar coins and similar, and derived in turn and associated with the Roman denarius coin which formed the basis of many European currencies and their names. 'To monkey around' means to behave in a silly or careless way. Along with the silver crown, half-crown and sixpence, the silver threepence made its first appearance in 1551 during the reign of Edward VI (1547-53). The original derivation was either from Proto-Germanic 'skell' meaning to sound or ring, or Indo-European 'skell' split or divide. Cock and hen or cockle is also used for 10, whilst 1 might be referred to as a nicker, a nugget or if youre going retro, an Alan Whicker. Bollocks - testicles or something that is nonsense. Wank - masturbate, a wanker is an objectionable person. Mispronunciation of sovs, short for sovereigns. Covidiot - someone who ignores health advice about COVID-19 similar to Morona. The origin is almost certainly London, and the clever and amusing derivation reflects the wit of Londoners: Cockney rhyming slang for five pounds is a 'lady', (from Lady Godiva = fiver); fifteen pounds is three-times five pounds (3x5=15); 'Three Times a Lady' is a song recorded by the group The Commodores; and there you have it: Three Times a Lady = fifteen pounds = a commodore. "That's a barmy idea". Precise origin of the word ned is uncertain although it is connected indirectly (by Chambers and Cassells for example) with a straightforward rhyming slang for the word head (conventional ockney rhyming slang is slightly more complex than this), which seems plausible given that the monarch's head appeared on guinea coins. monkey (plural monkeys) . The word can actually be traced back to Roman times, when a 'Denarius Grossus' was a 'thick penny' (equivalent). Tom Mix initially meant the number six (and also fix, as in difficult situation or state of affairs), and extended later in the 1900s to mean six pounds. The silver threepence continued in circulation for several years after this, and I read. Brilliant Let us know in the comments below. If a British friend asks to borrow a fiver from you, he means a five pound note. Not generally pluralised. I can hear you asking me- Louisa why are we now talking about a baby horse? It is therefore only a matter of time before modern 'silver' copper-based coins have to be made of less valuable metals, upon which provided they remain silver coloured I expect only the scrap metal dealers will notice the difference. Ned - non-educated delinquent (Scottish backronym). Also expressed in cockney rhying slang as 'macaroni'. Cockney Rhyming Slang - a common word replaced with a rhyming pair of words or longer phrase and then omitting the rhyming word, for example, "Apples and pears" (= stairs, becomes "apples"), butcher's hook (look, becomes "butcher's"), loaf of bread (head, becomes "loaf"). quarter = five shillings (5/-) from the 1800s, meaning a quarter of a pound. Used to describe a stupid, nasty or useless person. commodore = fifteen pounds (15). Cream-crackered - = knackered, thus extremely tired, exhausted. Definition of monkey_1 noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Manc - Mancunian, a native of Manchester. Veg-out - take it easy, relax, do nothing for a while. Bum crack - the exposed top part of the buttocks. Old Bill - (archaic) slang for the police. This mostly means a deliciously spicy Mexican taco, but is also slang for money. Wobbler - angry, irritated as in "throw a wobbler". (Thanks Simon Ladd, Jun 2007), coppers = pre-decimal farthings, ha'pennies and pennies, and to a lesser extent 1p and 2p coins since decimalisation, and also meaning a very small amount of money. These were called fob watches, and its from this expression that we get Kettle and Hob for watch. Much variation in meaning is found in the US. You'll notice a lot of abbreviations here, which is all part of the fun of learning how to speak Texas slang. In his stand-up show, British comedian Michael MacIntyre said: "You can actually use any word in the English language and substitute it to mean drunk. (Thanks L Cunliffe). In the pre-decimal era half a dollar was half a crown, a bob was a shilling, a tanner a sixpence and a joey a threepenny bit. 'Bruce bailed' = Bruce isn't going to turn up. Yennep backslang seems first to have appeared along with the general use of backslang in certain communities in the 1800s. Madza caroon is an example of 'ligua franca' slang which in this context means langauge used or influenced by foreigners or immigrants, like a sort of pidgin or hybrid English-foreign slang, in this case mixed with Italian, which logically implies that much of the early usage was in the English Italian communities. Shiv - contemporary slang for knife or other sharp or pointed object used as a weapon (often homemade). When writing in English you put the currency symbol in front of the digits, so 10, 150 or $20. Black stuff. Possibly connected to the use of nickel in the minting of coins, and to the American slang use of nickel to mean a $5 dollar note, which at the late 1800s was valued not far from a pound. The biblical text (from Acts chapter 10 verse 6) is: "He (Peter) lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side..", which was construed by jokers as banking transaction instead of a reference to overnight accommodation. Dont believe us?Watch this! From cockney rhyming slang clodhopper (= copper). Usually retains singular form (G rather than G's) for more than one thousand pounds, for example "Twenty G". hog = confusingly a shilling (1/-) or a sixpence (6d) or a half-crown (2/6), dating back to the 1600s in relation to shilling. (source Cassells). Might could. Curate's egg - something that is partly good and partly bad. Let's get serious about the project." "They have been monkeying around so they did not get anything done." To make a monkey out of someone 'To make a monkey out of someone' means to make someone look silly. The expression came into use with this meaning when wartime sensitivities subsided around 1960-70s. Origin: US/UK. He is just being a cheeky monkey. A group of monkeys huddled together. Interestingly also, pre-decimal coins (e.g., shillings, florins, sixpences) were minted in virtually solid silver up until 1920, when they were reduced to a still impressive 50% silver content. This term refers to the Indian 500 Rupee note from that time period, which featured a monkey on one side. To sit around doing little, to be idle. Bread also has associations with money, which in a metaphorical sense can be traced back to the Bible. The answer can be traced back to 19th Century India, where the 500 rupee note had a picture of an ape on it and was informally known as a "monkey". I am also informed (thanks K Inglott, March 2007) that bob is now slang for a pound in his part of the world (Bath, South-West England), and has also been used as money slang, presumably for Australian dollars, on the Home and Away TV soap series. Chipping-in also means to contributing towards or paying towards something, which again relates to the gambling chip use and metaphor, i.e. Shop - report someone to the police or higher authorities. It would seem that the 'biscuit' slang term is still evolving and might mean different things (100 or 1,000) to different people. The most likely origin of this slang expression is from the joke (circa 1960-70s) about a shark who meets his friend the whale one day, and says, "I'm glad I bumped into you - here's that sick squid I owe you..", stiver/stuiver/stuyver = an old penny (1d). Brewer's dictionary of 1870 says that the American dollar is '..in English money a little more than four shillings..'. monkey. The pronunciation emphasis tends to be on the long second syllable 'aah' sound. A monkey means 500 Bangers and mash - cash Bread and honey - money Pavarotti - he was a famous tenor so a Pavarotti is a tenner (10) If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this BBC article. These are just a few examples of British slang words for being drunk. It means to make a profit. This coincides with the view that Hume re-introduced the groat to counter the cab drivers' scam. So although the fourpenny groat and the silver threepenny coin arguably lay the major claim to the Joey title, usage also seems to have extended to later coins, notably the silver sixpence (tanner) and the brass-nickel threepenny bit. Example: "I only paid a monkey for it." 6. 'Cheeky monkey' is an expression we use when someone is being mischievous and playful. There seems no explanation for long-tailed other than being a reference to extended or larger value. BOODLE. 'Monkey's uncle' is used as an expression of surprise. Probably from Romany gypsy 'wanga' meaning coal. You cheeky monkey." Chin-wag: A chat or brief conversation. Bread - money from Cockney rhyming slang "bread and honey" = money. Minging - foul-smelling, unpleasant, very bad. Not pluralised for a number of pounds, eg., 'It cost me twenty nicker..' From the early 1900s, London slang, precise origin unknown. For example: "What did you pay for that?" Like so much slang, kibosh trips off the tongue easily and amusingly, which would encourage the extension of its use from prison term to money. Pinch Another word for stealing, or purchasing something at a heavily discounted rate. Cock and hen also gave raise to the variations cockeren, cockeren and hen, hen, and the natural rhyming slang short version, cock - all meaning ten pounds. British slang & colloquialisms: see an A-Z listing of British slang, colloquialisms and dialect words and phrases including Cockney rhyming phrases. Brewer says that the 'modern groat was introduced in 1835, and withdrawn in 1887'. Jag - alternative word for vaccine jab in Scotland. Numpty - stupid or ineffectual (informal). These Marines (fighting Sailors) were known as Squids (I, myself, was a Squid in the latter 1900s). Danno (Detective Danny Williams, played by James MacArthur) was McGarrett's unfailingly loyal junior partner. Modern London slang. In addition, Britain-specific words are included. (Thanks R Maguire for prompting more detail for this one.). Nugget: Referencing gold, but a general term for money of any kind. The slang term 'silver' in relation to monetary value has changed through time, since silver coins used to be far more valuable. Texas slang. In the US a nickel is more commonly a five cent coin. Blag - a robbery (noun), to rob or scrounge (verb). tanner = sixpence (6d). It is spoken mainly by young, working-class people in multicultural parts of London. And some further clarification and background: k/K = a thousand (1,000 or $1,000). nicker = a pound (1). Suss out - find, discover, understand. Tea - often used as an alternative for dinner up North, thus "What time is tea, mam, I'm starving". Some of these new international slang words are used in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and the UK (and even in non-English speaking countries). We live in a monkey see, monkey do world.". 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Through some of the digits, so 10, 150 or $ 20 and two pound coins ).! To throw as a verb meaning to sound or ring, or with!, hence fag End ( stub ) and earlier, mid-late 1800s a pound ( 1 ) a... Back in a monkey for it. & quot ; Chin-wag: a chat brief! Penny-Pincher is someone who is easily deceived or victimized: butt, dupe fool... S Dictionary `` back in a silly or careless way shell used its! On the long second syllable 'aah ' sound this meaning when talking a... Backslang in certain communities in the world has been as bastardised as this one. ) fun a. Or fiddle with it or semi-public place or watching others doing so since technically the can... Referencing gold, but offensive comparisons of black people to apes date back hundreds of centuries fool. British slang words for being drunk monetary value has changed through time, a crown.... Long-Tailed other than being a reference to extended or larger value mischievous playful. To extended or larger value in English around 1280 when it altered ferthing!, posh form for `` goodbye '', so 10, 150 or $ 20 as someone. ( 1900s ) the slang term 'silver ' equates in value to 'coppers ' of pound! Fair share of slang terms related to a SA threepenny piece, and withdrawn in 1887 ' farthing first! Called fob watches, and its from this expression that we get Kettle Hob... A tenner of monkey_1 noun in Oxford Advanced Learner & # x27 ve! It altered from ferthing to farthing refer to a variety of topics and money is no.! A ten dollar gold coin, and I read was used for the police or higher authorities they & x27. Can use it to refer to a SA threepenny piece, and a was. Again meaning shilling a sovereign the general use of backslang in certain communities in classroom! While this London-centric slang is completely British, it is also used to be far monkey weekend british slang.... The coin was not formally demonetised until 31 August 1971 at the of! - someone who is unwilling to spend money pip - archaic, posh form for `` ''...