BS: Another question for Brits

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Bert
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 10:04 PM

No it is not on the metric system. it is not even decimalised as they claimed at the time. It is a centigesimal system.

The old system used to be twelve pence = one shilling, twenty shillings = one pound.

The abbreviatioons were L.S.D. for pounds shillings and pence.

From the Latin Libra - Pound (plural Librae), Solidus - shilling(plural solidi) and denarius - penny (Plural denarii).

Rule Britannia, two tanners make a bob,
three make eighteen pence and four make two bob.

Other coins were the farthing which was a quarter of a penny and the halfpenny.

slang -
the penny was a stever - rhyming slag for which was coal heaver. Even today you'll hear people say 'ain't worth a coal'
threepenny bits are rhyming slang for tits.
the sixpence was a sprazie
a shilling was a bob
half a crown was half a tosh but I never heard anyone call a crown a 'tosh'
a crown was a five shilling piece also called a dollar from its value years ago. Rhyming slang an Oxford Scholar or simply an Oxford
A pound is a quid or a onecer.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:57 PM

Thanks, Richard Bridge, that's the one I want- half past. I was always hearing it in London. It seems to me that it should be half way to six rather than after.

Was McGrath trying to mislead me, or do Scots use it differently?

A quid is defined in the OED as a sovereign, a coin (skipping the early history) which, by Royal Proclamation, was defined as 20 shillngs in 1817. The origin is unknown.

(The game 'quidditch,' mentioned by Megan, above, is not cited in the OED. No such?)

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:45 PM

SO in the UK what does it mean if the glass is half empty? It's only half full, and time to top it up.
........................
Steve, it's rather obvious that they aren't going to tell you. Twice told already and you're the third, Sorcha:

"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:30 PM

Steve, it's rather obvious that they aren't going to tell you. Quid is slang for £1. One pound sterling, which is now about $2USD if not a bit more.


Now, as to how it came by that, I surely can't tell you. It was the old English monetary system with all those words--quid, bob, farthing, shilling, etc. At least now it's on the metric system.

If you really want to understand the old monetary system, I suggest you PM a friendly Brit.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Nick E
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:06 PM

SO in the UK what does it mean if the glass is half empty?

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Greg B
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:05 PM

That's why the Germans nearly won the war--- they were always
there an hour before.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:47 PM

But in the UK it's half past, not half before!

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:44 PM

Q, if you are referring to German phraseology, 'half six' would be a half hour until 6.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Rowan
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:35 PM

I have a few quids in stock

Sounds like you're talking about chewing tobacco. If you're talking about currrency, the plural of quid is like the plural of sheep; there's no "s" at the tail.

Cheers, Rowan; we had them in Oz until 40 odd years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Greg B
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:30 PM

But how is it two tanners make a bob, five make two-and-six
and one for his nob? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:09 PM

It's three.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:07 PM

It has been explained to me before, but I never remember.

Is half six 5:30 or 6:30?

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:54 PM

One hundred pence - but twenty shillings before they screwed up the currency.

But if only we could get them to call the European currency "the Quid" instead of "the Euro". I'm sure most of the antagonism to adopting it in this country would die pretty rapidly.

After all "quid" is a good Latin word meaning "something", and hence pretty internationally European to start with.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: gnomad
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:51 PM

I have a few quids in stock, and could be persuaded to part with 'em for say $10US apiece, tax and carriage included, minimum order 100 quids (cash only, sorry)

I also have a number of seagulls, pigeons, and a couple of bridges you might like?

This capitalism lark's a hoot, innit?


I like the permathread idea, we could just check in periodically, there's always at least one of us getting confused about something.

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: Megan L
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:06 PM

It is an name derived from the ancient and honourable game of quidditch and was the minimum amout allowed in any one bet

Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:03 PM

One pound, 100 new pence, one fifth of a fiver.
G

Subject: BS: Another question for Brits
From: RangerSteve
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:01 PM

Maybe we could start another perma-thread, one that covers questions that Brits and Americans have concerning language, pop culture, and other differences.

Anyway, here's a question that can be answered easily. How much is a Quid? The word keeps showing up in British TV shows and we don't have quids in the U.S.