half-crown

plural half-crowns · alternative half crown · alternative half-a-crown

1. historicalA 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

   3 more examples

   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

   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

   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

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