$$$$$ Slang- Your place to update this list

mickeyd · 07-30-2007, 03:24 PM

Slang Words for American Money

Many folks have been curious about some of the origins of different slang words we use for money - here is what has been developed so far:

Buck – Popular in 1856; this was a popular abbreviation for buckskin, a unit of exchange in the American colonies.

Clams -Clamshell made into 'strings' of money and these strings were the standard of exchange. Whole strung olivella shells went at $1 a yard.

Smackers – This referred to the sound the clamshells made while on the string. It was also heard in the 1920’s and refers to the sound heard when coins are counted or money is smacked down on a counter.

Bacon – Among rural Brits, in the middle ages, having this staple in your home was considered a sign of prosperity. ‘Bringing home the bacon’ was the new slang when games of catching greased pigs at county fairs took effect.

Bread – A main staple in numerous people lives and has been equated with cash for centuries.

Dough - the usage of dough dates from the 19th century in the U.S. and spread to Britain and elsewhere; since one needs bread (food) to live, and money is what buys it.

Peanuts – A small amount as in, "Working for peanuts". Known for the food cheapness and small size.

Greenback -A nickname originally applied to a 19th century United States Demand Note; is now a common specific reference to the U.S. dollar. It is not used for coins or dollars of other countries, whose dollar bills are not green

C-Note – using the roman letter C for 100 to denote a $100 bill

Moolah – mill, from le moulin - This word may be the origin of the English slang meaning of "moolah" as "money", as mills are even today equated with income in the Northwest, i.e. "the smell of money", as the saying goes.

Cent (¢) – the smallest unit in american currency, penny.

2 cents worth – of trivial contributions or a small contribution

Cash on the Barrelhead - The barrels used as informal counters in old-time general stores or to merchants refusing to hand over a barrel containing goods until it had been paid for. Dates to 1906

What slang have you heard of? (If you know the history, great!)

thefed · 07-30-2007, 03:34 PM

cheddar

cheese

cream

benjamins

loot

paper

pfpelican · 07-30-2007, 03:49 PM

samoleans

wildcat · 07-30-2007, 04:45 PM

I had a professor from the deep south who used to say "dolla"

justin · 07-30-2007, 04:46 PM

mad loot
cash money
bling bling
bens
G's
green
USD

bbbamI · 07-30-2007, 05:40 PM

scratch

cabbage

(samoleans...I'd forgotten that one!)

MikeD · 07-30-2007, 05:41 PM

Sheckles

GatorBuzz · 07-30-2007, 07:09 PM

Ducketts

Coin

Jack

Salaryman · 07-30-2007, 09:41 PM

Beans
ducats
filthy lucre
gravy
legal tender
moolah
wad
chump change
lettuce

cold cash
hard cash

thefed · 07-30-2007, 10:00 PM

ha ha

i forgot ducketts and cabbage

im gonna try to use them tomorrow

BUM · 07-31-2007, 04:56 AM

My Jewish CPA (best kind) used to say, "You can afford it, you got the geetz."

Geetz! I love that.

mickeyd · 07-31-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

ducketts and cabbage

MMMM...Duckets and cabbage with sweet and sour sauce.

bbbamI · 07-31-2007, 02:08 PM

Maybe that's the history of the words...a Chinese menu.

07-30-2007, 03:24 PM	#1
mickeyd Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Texas~29N/98W Posts: 2,290	$$$$$ Slang- Your place to update this list Slang Words for American Money Many folks have been curious about some of the origins of different slang words we use for money - here is what has been developed so far: Buck – Popular in 1856; this was a popular abbreviation for buckskin, a unit of exchange in the American colonies. Clams -Clamshell made into 'strings' of money and these strings were the standard of exchange. Whole strung olivella shells went at $1 a yard. Smackers – This referred to the sound the clamshells made while on the string. It was also heard in the 1920’s and refers to the sound heard when coins are counted or money is smacked down on a counter. Bacon – Among rural Brits, in the middle ages, having this staple in your home was considered a sign of prosperity. ‘Bringing home the bacon’ was the new slang when games of catching greased pigs at county fairs took effect. Bread – A main staple in numerous people lives and has been equated with cash for centuries. Dough - the usage of dough dates from the 19th century in the U.S. and spread to Britain and elsewhere; since one needs bread (food) to live, and money is what buys it. Peanuts – A small amount as in, "Working for peanuts". Known for the food cheapness and small size. Greenback -A nickname originally applied to a 19th century United States Demand Note; is now a common specific reference to the U.S. dollar. It is not used for coins or dollars of other countries, whose dollar bills are not green C-Note – using the roman letter C for 100 to denote a $100 bill Moolah – mill, from le moulin - This word may be the origin of the English slang meaning of "moolah" as "money", as mills are even today equated with income in the Northwest, i.e. "the smell of money", as the saying goes. Cent (¢) – the smallest unit in american currency, penny. 2 cents worth – of trivial contributions or a small contribution Cash on the Barrelhead - The barrels used as informal counters in old-time general stores or to merchants refusing to hand over a barrel containing goods until it had been paid for. Dates to 1906 What slang have you heard of? (If you know the history, great!) __________________ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.

07-30-2007, 03:49 PM	#3
pfpelican Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 229	samoleans __________________ Old Guys Rule

07-30-2007, 04:45 PM	#4
wildcat Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,896	I had a professor from the deep south who used to say "dolla" __________________ "These walls are kind of funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, gets so you depend on them"

07-30-2007, 05:40 PM	#6
bbbamI Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas Vicinity Posts: 1,814	scratch cabbage (samoleans...I'd forgotten that one!) __________________ If you think pleasure in life is over-rated, you haven’t been pleasured enough.

07-30-2007, 05:41 PM	#7
MikeD Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 501	Did I grow up in NY or what? Sheckles

07-30-2007, 03:34 PM	#2
thefed Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,417	cheddar cheese cream benjamins loot paper

07-30-2007, 04:46 PM	#5
justin Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,010	mad loot cash money bling bling bens G's green USD

07-30-2007, 07:09 PM	#8
GatorBuzz Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 205	Ducketts Coin Jack __________________ "...I'm the kind of guy who if he can't have too much of a thing doesn't want any at all."

07-30-2007, 09:41 PM	#9
Salaryman Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 81	Beans ducats filthy lucre gravy legal tender moolah wad chump change lettuce cold cash hard cash

07-30-2007, 10:00 PM	#10
thefed Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,417	ha ha i forgot ducketts and cabbage im gonna try to use them tomorrow

07-31-2007, 04:56 AM	#11
BUM Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,549	My Jewish CPA (best kind) used to say, "You can afford it, you got the geetz." Geetz! I love that. __________________ In a panamax down by the river.

07-31-2007, 02:08 PM	#13
bbbamI Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas Vicinity Posts: 1,814	Maybe that's the history of the words...a Chinese menu. __________________ If you think pleasure in life is over-rated, you haven’t been pleasured enough.

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