shinplaster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely low / HistoricalHistorical / Archaic / Numismatics
Quick answer
What does “shinplaster” mean?
A piece of paper currency, especially one of very low denomination or questionable value, issued privately or by a government lacking full credit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of paper currency, especially one of very low denomination or questionable value, issued privately or by a government lacking full credit.
By extension, any item or piece of paper that is considered worthless or of very little value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is most associated with North American (U.S. and Canadian) financial history. British English may use it in historical contexts but lacks the same specific historical reference.
Connotations
In North America, it carries a specific historical connotation of frontier economics and financial instability. In British English, it is a more generic, rare term for worthless paper.
Frequency
Virtually never used in contemporary British English. In American English, it is an obscure historical term, occasionally used in historical writing or metaphorically.
Grammar
How to Use “shinplaster” in a Sentence
[a/an] + adjective + shinplastershinplaster + of + (denomination)be + worth + a shinplasterVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business; only in historical discussion of finance or currency.
Academic
Used in historical, economic, or numismatic texts to describe early paper currency.
Everyday
Obsolete. Might be used humorously or metaphorically to describe something worthless.
Technical
Specific term in numismatics for certain historical private or provisional banknotes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shinplaster”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shinplaster”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shinplaster”
- Using it to refer to modern currency.
- Spelling as two words: 'shin plaster'.
- Assuming it is a medical term in contemporary language.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It derives from the idea that the worthless paper note was only good for use as a plaster (bandage) for a sore shin.
No, it is an archaic term. Modern analogues might be 'scrip' or specific terms for low-value commemorative or emergency currency, but not 'shinplaster'.
Metaphorically, yes. Calling someone's idea or contribution a 'shinplaster' implies it is worthless.
Often they were not official government legal tender but were issued by private banks, companies, or municipalities and circulated locally out of necessity.
A piece of paper currency, especially one of very low denomination or questionable value, issued privately or by a government lacking full credit.
Shinplaster is usually historical / archaic / numismatics in register.
Shinplaster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪnˌplɑːstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪnˌplæstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a shinplaster”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **plaster** (bandage) for your **shin** made of worthless paper money—that's a SHINPLASTER.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTHLESSNESS IS A LOW-DENOMINATION/NON-REDEEMABLE CURRENCY.
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary characteristic of a historical 'shinplaster'?