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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;PaddyB, post: 1639092, member: 40017&quot;]No one is entirely sure where the term Bob for a shilling came from. I did a quick google search and came up with this:</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The origin of the word &#039;bob&#039; meaning Shilling is not known for sure,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; although the usage certainly dates back to the late 1700s. My favourite is&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; suggested in Brewer&#039;s 1870 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable in that &#039;bob&#039; could&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; be derived from &#039;Bawbee&#039;, which was 16-19th century slang for a half-penny, in&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; turn derived from: French &#039;bas billon&#039;, meaning debased copper money (coins&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; were commonly cut to make change); and/or the Laird of Sillabawby, a 16th&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; century mintmaster. Perhaps there is also a connection with the church or&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; bell-ringing since &#039;bob&#039; meant a set of changes rung on the bells. This would&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; be consistent with one of the possible origins and associations of the root of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; the word Shilling, (from Proto-Germanic &#039;skell&#039; meaning to sound or ring). Also&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; perhaps a connection with a plumb-bob; (the association with another heavy&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; piece of metal), made of lead and used to mark a vertical position in certain&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; trades, notably masons. &#039;Bob a nob&#039;, in the early 1800s meant &#039;a shilling a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; head&#039;, when estimating costs of meals, etc. In the 18th century &#039;bobstick&#039; was&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; a shillings-worth of gin. In parts of the US &#039;bob&#039; was slang used for the US&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; dollar coin.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>on this website: <a href="http://www.businessballs.com/moneyslanghistory.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.businessballs.com/moneyslanghistory.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessballs.com/moneyslanghistory.htm</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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