Dictionary

half-crown en · NOUN

Etymology

From its value of half of the crown (five-shilling) coin.

Meanings

1. (historical) A pre-decimal coin used in Britain, Ireland and New Zealand, equivalent to 30 pence or two shillings and six pence.
   • […] though we play but half-crowns, you know you may bet half guineas with him. 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 249:
   • Half-a-crown is known as an alderman, half a bull, half a tusheroon, and a madza caroon; whilst a crown piece, or five shillings, may be called either a bull, or a caroon, or a cartwheel, or a coachwheel, or a thick-un, or a tusheroon. 1859, J.C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words:
   • Keeping, therefore, an eye to the main chance, stimulated by the best possible motive, Helen emptied her purse on the bed, in such a manner, as to allow a stray half sovereign to escape, when she added the shillings and half-crowns to the little heap, and said, in a tremulous voice, "Here is my money." 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIV, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 10:
   • This is a masterly work of condensation, omitting nothing of importance and providing a most readable book that for a modest half-crown is incredibly good value. 1962 October, “New Reading on Railways: Great Western. By Cecil J. Allen, Ian Allan. 2s 6d.”, in Modern Railways, unnumbered page:

Forms

Relateds

half sovereign

Synonyms

half-a-bull · hog · madza caroon · tosheroon, tusheroon, tossaroon · half-a-tusheroon, half-a-tosheroon · half-a-dollar · alderman · tosh, tush

Translations (8)

de halbe Krone (coin) · ru полкро́ны (coin) · nrf êtchu (coin) · gd leth-chrùn (coin) · ga leathchoróin (coin) · ru полукро́на (coin) · fr demi-couronne (coin) · cy hanner coron (coin)