Shil'ling, n.

n. [A-S. & O. Sax. scilling, O. Fries., Sw., & Dan. skilling, Icel. skillingr, Goth. skilliggs, O. H. Ger. scillinc, scellink; D. schelling, N. H. Ger. schilling, probably from A-S. scillan, O. H. Ger. scellen, N. H. Ger. schellen, schallen, to sound; L. Lat. schellingus, Fr., Pr., & Sp. escalin, Pg. zelim, It. scellino.

1Sense 1. An English silver coin, and money of account, equal to twelve pence, or the twentieth part of a pound, equivalent to about twenty-four cents of the United States' currency.

2Sense 2. In the United States, a denomination of money, differing in value relatively to the dollar in different States, but below that of the English shilling in all, with a corresponding value for the penny, and in former usage, for the pound. The diversity arose from the scarcity of coin in the colonies, and was fixed at an early period in their history.