take the shilling
verbEtymology
A reference to the practice during the 18th and 19th century of a recruiting officer getting a person to enlist in the British Army or Royal Navy by accepting (or being tricked into accepting) a shilling, which was then a soldier’s daily pay. The practice was officially ended in 1879.
Definitions
To enlist as a soldier in the British army or navy by accepting a shilling from a…
To enlist as a soldier in the British army or navy by accepting a shilling from a recruiting officer.
- [O]ne fellow was jilted by his miſtreſs and took the ſhilling in deſpair; […]
- I have taken the King's shilling, but perhaps if you came for me they would let me go back with you. I was a fool when I did it. I don't want to be in the army.
To enlist as a soldier of any military force
To enlist as a soldier of any military force; to join the armed forces.
To be on the payroll of an organization
To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for take the shilling. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA