Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
King's shilling en · NOUN
Meanings
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(UK, historical) A shilling accepted by new recruits when agreeing to or tricked into enlisting into the British army or navy during the 18th and 19th centuries.
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.
1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “Strife in Love”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC, part II, page 182:
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(figuratively) The benefits and rewards of military service.
Forms
Relateds
take the shilling · one of His Majesty's bad bargains