shilling

noun

shil·​ling ˈshi-liŋ 

1

a

: a former monetary unit of the United Kingdom equal to 12 pence or 1/20 pound

b

: a former monetary unit equal to 1/20 pound of any of various countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations

2

: a coin representing one shilling

3

: any of several early American coins

4

: the basic monetary unit of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda see Money Table

Examples of shilling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, in a blink, the shilling became inescapable. —Danny Funt, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025

The experts told Politifact that there isn’t even an accepted way to translate Cratchit’s weekly 15 shillings into 2020s money. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025

King appeared in one video shilling for Burger King. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025

The numismatist said the hoard was buried in the late 1530s, when its value was 26 pounds, 5 shillings and 5-1/2 pence. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English scilling; akin to Old High German skilling, a gold coin

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for shilling

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• filling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• skilling
• spilling

Kids Definition

shilling

noun

shil·​ling ˈshil-iŋ 

1

: a former unit of British money equal to ¹⁄₂₀ pound

2

: a coin equal to ¹⁄₂₀ pound in any of several countries of the Commonwealth of Nations

3

: any of several early American coins

4

a

: the basic unit of money of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda

b

: a coin representing this unit