from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shilling \Shil"ling\, n. [OE. shilling, schilling, AS. scilling;
akin to D. schelling, OS. & OHG. scilling, G. schilling, Sw.
& Dan. skilling, Icel. skillingr, Goth. skilliggs, and perh.
to OHG. scellan to sound, G. schallen.]
1. A silver coin, and money of account, of Great Britain and
its dependencies, equal to twelve pence, or the twentieth
part of a pound, equivalent to about twenty-four cents of
the United States currency.
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2. In the United States, a denomination of money, differing
in value in different States. It is not now legally
recognized.
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Note: Many of the States while colonies had issued bills of
credit which had depreciated in different degrees in
the different colonies. Thus, in New England currency
(used also in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida),
after the adoption of the decimal system, the pound in
paper money was worth only $3.333, and the shilling
162/3 cts., or 6s. to $1; in New York currency (also in
North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan), the pound was
worth $2.50, and the shilling 121/2 cts., or 8s. to $1;
in Pennsylvania currency (also in New Jersey, Delaware,
and Maryland), the pound was worth $2.70, and the
shilling 131/2 cts., or 7s. 6d. to $1; and in Georgia
currency (also in South Carolina), the pound was worth
$4.20[frac67], and the shilling 21[frac37] cts., or 4s
8d. to $1. In many parts of the country . . . the
reckoning by shillings and pence is not yet entirely
abandoned. --Am. Cyc. (1890)
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3. The Spanish real, of the value of one eight of a dollar,
or 12? cets; -- formerly so called in New York and some
other States. See Note under 2.
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{York shilling}. Same as {Shilling}, 3.
[1913 Webster] Shill-I-shall-I