shinplaster

S1H4I1N1P3L1A1S1T1E1R1

noun

An essentially worthless note of paper money.

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Meanings

nounshinplaster (plural shinplasters)

plural shinplasters

  1. AustraliaNew ZealandUShistoricalinformalAn essentially worthless note of paper money.
  2. CanadahistoricalinformalA 25¢ banknote.

Origin

From shin + plaster. Probably coined during the American War of Independence (1775–1783). Named for its resemblance to, and suitability for makeshift use as, a bandage for dressing the shin.

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Cite this entry
APA

shinplaster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shinplaster

MLA

“shinplaster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shinplaster. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shinplaster,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shinplaster.

Source: shinplaster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.