simon

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See also: Simon, simón, ŝimon, Simón, Símon, and Šimon

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Uncertain. One theory suggests derivation from a joke based on the bible verse Acts 9:43,[1] rendered as “Peter lodged with Simon a tanner”, a pun on the meanings of lodge (stay in a place; put away money).[2] Partridge suggests that this not possible given the dates, however, and suggests instead derivation from some unknown person’s name.[3] Attested from the late 17th century, with synonymous tanner attested from the 18th.[3] Compare also simony, from a different biblical figure, Simon Magnus.

The “US dollar” sense derives from the earlier “sixpence”, perhaps influenced by the $ symbol.[4]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • enPR: sīʹmən, IPA(key): /ˈsaɪmən/
  • Rhymes: -aɪmən
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

simon (plural simons)

  1. (slang, British, dated) Sixpence coin. [17th-19th C.]
  2. (slang, US, archaic) A US dollar. [19th C.]

Related terms[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Holy Bible, [] (King James Version), London: [] Robert Barker, [], 1611, →OCLC, Acts 9:43:And it came to passe, that he taried many dayes in Ioppa, with one Simon a Tanner.
  2. ^ Jonathon Green (2024) “simon n1.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang. See also tanner n.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Eric Partridge (1937) “simon (or S.)”, in A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English [] , London: Macmillan, page 770
  4. ^ Simon, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, July 2023.

Anagrams[edit]