shinplaster

[ shin-plas-ter, -plah-ster ]

noun

1. a plaster for the shin or leg.
2. 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.

shinplaster

/ ˈʃɪnˌplɑːstə /

noun

1. a promissory note on brittle paper, issued by an individual

Word History and Origins

Origin of shinplaster¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; shin ¹ + plaster

Word History and Origins

Origin of shinplaster¹

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

Example Sentences

Congress tried to stamp out the practice with an 1862 law outlawing such private currency, but the shinplasters flooded cities from New York to Richmond, Va.

From New York Times

For emergency use there had been issued one-pound treasury notes that looked more like a "shinplaster" of our Civil War days than like a dignified British pound.

From Project Gutenberg

The treasurer said that all the funds were in the safe, but only charred packages of Confederate “shinplasters” were found therein when the safe was opened.

From Project Gutenberg

Mother, you received a letter from me sent last Wednesday, 22nd, of course, with a small quantity of shinplasters.

From Project Gutenberg

Mine was on a horse at the head of the procession, but I had a ten-cent "shinplaster," with which I bought some biscuits of the man.

From Project Gutenberg