spondulicks

spondulicks
spondulicks 1856, American English slang, "money, cash," of unknown origin, said to be from Gk. spondylikos, from spondylos, a seashell used as currency (the Greek word means lit. "vertebra"). Used by Mark Twain and O. Henry and adopted into British English, where it survives despite having faded in American English.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • spondulicks — AND spondulics; spondulix[span”duliks] n. money. □ How much spondulicks will this set me back? □ I don’t have enough spondulix to swing the deal …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • spondulicks — /spon dooh liks/, n. Older Slang. money; cash. Also, spondulix. [1855 60, Amer.; orig. uncert.] * * * …   Universalium

  • spondulicks — noun Money …   Wiktionary

  • Spondulicks — money (originally British slang (19th C.); originally meaning paper money ; persumably somehow a use of the Ancient Greek word spondulikos , adjective of spondulos vertebra, a round stone, a round weight, a voting pebble, though the sense… …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • spondulicks — Australian Slang money (originally British slang (19th C.); originally meaning paper money ; persumably somehow a use of the Ancient Greek word spondulikos , adjective of spondulos vertebra, a round stone, a round weight, a voting pebble, though… …   English dialects glossary

  • spondulicks — n money, wealth. A lighthearted term which was obsolescent by the 1960s (having originated in the USA in the 1850s), but which, like other synonyms for money, was revived in the 1980s (compare rhino, pelf, etc.) It originated as a learned… …   Contemporary slang

  • spondulicks — [spɒn d(j)u:lɪks] plural noun Brit. informal money. Origin C19: of unknown origin …   English new terms dictionary

  • spondulicks — Noun. Money. Also spelt spondulics and spondulix. 1800s …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • spondulicks — spon·du·licks …   English syllables

  • spondulicks — /spɒnˈdjulɪks/ (say spon dyoohliks) plural noun Colloquial (construed as singular) money. Also, spondulix. {US English (1850s); origin unknown} …  

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