half-crown

English

Alternative forms

• half crown
• half-a-crown

Etymology

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

Noun

half-crown (plural half-crowns)

1. (historical) A pre-decimal coin used in Britain, Ireland and New Zealand, equivalent to 30 pence or two shillings and six pence.

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

   • 1814 July, [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 249:

     […] though we play but half-crowns, you know you may bet half guineas with him.

   • 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:

     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."

   • 1859, J.C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words:

     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.

   • 1962 October, “New Reading on Railways: Great Western. By Cecil J. Allen, Ian Allan. 2s 6d.”, in Modern Railways, unnumbered page:

     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.

Translations

coin

• French: demi-couronne (fr) f
• German: halbe Krone f
• Irish: leathchoróin f
• Norman: êtchu m
• Russian: полкро́ны (ru) n (polkróny), полукро́на f (polukróna)
• Scottish Gaelic: leth-chrùn m
• Welsh: hanner coron m

See also

• half sovereign