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先令 (xiān lìng) — shilling (former British currency)

Definition

A historical currency unit — the British shilling (until 1971, twelve pence) and also used for the Austrian schilling. Not used for everyday money today; mostly seen in historical or numismatic contexts.

noun
shilling (former British currency)

Examples

  • 先令。
    Tā shōu cáng le yì méi wéi duō lì yà shí dài de xiān lìng.
    He collected a Victorian-era shilling.
  • 先令。
    Jiù shí yīng guó yì xiān lìng děng yú shí èr biàn shì.
    In old Britain, one shilling equaled twelve pence.
  • 先令。
    Zhè běn shū jì zǎi le xiān lìng zài zhí mín dì de liú tōng lì shǐ.
    This book records the circulation history of the shilling in the colonies.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →
Appears in
Money & Currency

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