take the shilling

Etymology


A reference to the practice during the 18th and 19th century of a recruiting officer getting a person to enlist in the or  by accepting (or being tricked into accepting) a shilling, which was then a soldier’s daily pay. The practice was officially ended in 1879.

Verb

 * 1)  To enlist as a soldier in the British army or navy by accepting a shilling from a recruiting officer.
 * 2)  To enlist as a soldier of any military force; to join the armed forces.
 * 3)  To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization.
 * 1)  To enlist as a soldier of any military force; to join the armed forces.
 * 2)  To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization.
 * 1)  To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization.

Usage notes
In the context of the United Kingdom, is also used in the form to take the King’s shilling or to take the Queen’s shilling depending on whether the monarch is a king or queen.

Translations

 * Finnish: värväytyä šillingistä
 * Macedonian:
 * Welsh: cymryd swllt y Brenin, cymryd swllt y Frenhines, listio yn y fyddin


 * Finnish: olla palkkalistoilla
 * Macedonian: