schilling
C2Formal/Historical
Definition
Meaning
The former primary monetary unit of Austria, replaced by the euro in 2002.
Historically, a coin used in various German-speaking regions and territories; more generally, a term for an obsolete or historical currency, often used to indicate something outdated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a proper noun (capitalised) when referring specifically to the Austrian currency. In English, it is used almost exclusively in historical or economic contexts related to 20th-century Austria.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and recognition are identical; primarily understood in historical/financial contexts.
Connotations
Connotes post-WWII Austrian economic history, pre-EU monetary union.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, limited to historical texts or discussions of monetary history.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] the old Austrian schilling[Verb] to pay in schillingsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a schilling”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in historical financial reports or discussions of currency conversion to the euro.
Academic
Appears in economic history papers, texts on European monetary union.
Everyday
Rarely used. Older Austrians might refer to it nostalgically when comparing prices.
Technical
Used in numismatics (coin collecting) and historical economics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The currency was not 'schillinged'; it was replaced by the euro.
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The schilling era ended in 2002.
American English
- Schilling-denominated bonds were converted.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Austria used the schilling before the euro.
- My grandfather still has some old Austrian schilling coins in a drawer.
- The conversion rate from the schilling to the euro was fixed irrevocably in 1999.
- Economic analyses of the post-war 'Wirtschaftswunder' often track the stability of the schilling as a key indicator.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SCHILLING sounds like 'shilling', another historical coin, but this one is specifically Austrian (starts with SCH like 'school' in German).
Conceptual Metaphor
A SCHILLING IS A RELIC OF THE PAST. Used to conceptualise outdated systems or pre-unification Europe.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'шиллингом' (shilling) – исторической британской монетой. 'Schilling' – это именно австрийская валюта.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'shilling' (the British coin).
- Using it as a common noun for any old coin.
- Incorrectly capitalising it when used generically (e.g., 'he had a few schillings').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'schilling' most precisely used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Austrian schilling was completely replaced by the euro in 2002. Some central banks may still exchange old notes indefinitely.
A schilling (with 'sch') was the Austrian currency. A shilling (with 'sh') was a British coin, pre-decimalisation, worth 12 old pence.
It is capitalised when referring specifically to the official Austrian currency unit, analogous to 'Pound' or 'Dollar'. In generic use (e.g., 'a handful of schillings'), lower case is sometimes used.
No, this is incorrect. In English, it refers specifically to the historical Austrian currency. Using it generically is a mistake and may cause confusion.