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four bits

American  

noun

Slang.
  1. 50 cents.


Other Word Forms

  • four-bit adjective

Etymology

Origin of four bits

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

League bean-counter, penciling out the unsportsmanlike-conduct tally: “Two bits, four bits, six bits … $12,875.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2022

And those four bits of news were just recently.

From The Verge • Dec. 21, 2021

A classical computer with, for example, four bits can represent 16 different states.

From Economist • May 5, 2016

Can a treasured life be summed up on four bits of paper?

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2015

“He made a go of it all right. Raised nine children. I’ll bet he hasn’t got four bits laid away. How could he?”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck