shinplaster

[ shin-plas-ter, -plah-ster ]
/ ˈʃɪnˌplæs tər, -ˌplɑ stər /

noun

a plaster for the shin or leg.
Informal. (formerly)
  1. a piece of paper money of a denomination lower than one dollar.
  2. money of little value, as that issued on insufficient security.

Origin of shinplaster

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; shin1 + plaster

Words nearby shinplaster

shinkin, shinleaf, shinner, shinnery, shinny, shinplaster, shinto, shinty, shiny, ship, ship biscuit

Example sentences from the Web for shinplaster

  • If evry boddy had a fashun ov their own, it wud make az mutch trubble az a shinplaster kurrensy.

    Josh Billings, Hiz Sayings |Henry Wheeler Shaw

  • The Shinplaster was in the shape of a promissory note, made payable on demand.

    Three Years in Europe |William Wells Brown

British Dictionary definitions for shinplaster

shinplaster
/ (ˈʃɪnˌplɑːstə) /

noun

US, Canadian and Australian a promissory note on brittle paper, issued by an individual

Word Origin for shinplaster

C19: so called because of its resemblance to a sticking plaster