The words “to coin” can be used as a verb with a literal
meaning to mint a coin, but in 14th century Europe, the term “coining” was
associated with inventing words. By the late 16th century, “coining a phrase” implied
the invention of a series of words used to complete a sentence. There's also a Greek word koinē, meaning
"common" or "shared". It is used for common language or lingua franca
used by speakers of different original dialects or languages. The New Testament was originally written in Koinē Greek, which was the common language, accessible to all, rather than the formal Classical Greek.
I love discovering the history of words, how and when they were first coined, and how their meaning has changed down the centuries. In the study, we have a little paper cup. It is full of the odd coins we find in pockets and bags at the end of the day, or when we are tidying up the table...
What do you call such a collection?
Is it small change? Or loose change?
I remember that when we had that huge mortgage, I used to say "We do not have loose change here, only tight budgets"
Have you come across the word
shrapnel?
I was thinking about this, and wondered who coined this term. It is an eponym, for Henry Shrapnel [1761-1842] who invented an artillery shell filled with lead musket balls, and a bursting charge, so it exploded in mid air.
The debris from exploding shells and bombs generally was called shrapnel. In WW1, metal and paper shortages meant they had problems at the Monnaie de Paris [the French Mint] and made cheap coins, and there were locally produced banknotes on cheap paper called billets de necessité. Troops fighting in France referred to the tattered notes as shrapnel - . By WW2, shrapnel had become the slang term among the forces for any small coins. However it was not recognised in British dictionaries till 1984.
Bob and I were talking about this - I first remember coming across the term in the 90s when I met my friend John [ex Forces]
Whatever you call such a pot of dosh**, it is useful to have some around, for charity pots, car park machines, and grandchildren who would like to buy their own treats. Many older people, and people managing debt issues, prefer to pay with real cash they can manage, rather than the credit card, which is 'virtual' money and sometimes hard to keep track of.
I for one do not want a cashless society, for lots of reasons.
What do you call shrapnel?
Are you happy to go 100% cashless?
[they can't agree on the origin of dosh- it may be doss, the price of a bed for the night, dash, the Colonial African word for a bribe, or the Russian-Jewish word dosh meaning nose, as in pay-on-the-nose, i.e. pay in cash]
I definitely do not want to go cashless. I agree with your reasons too. Also, for homeless people, trying to get some money for food. Last night, I saw an old man asking for help outside Vauxhall station and he saw me make eye contact and asked if I had any money to help him as he was hungry and had been sleeping in the park and was covered in bites. I said I wasn't sure but I'd look. He asked if perhaps I was able to go to a cashpoint but I had my bike and a load of luggage and needed tiger to my rehearsal. Luckily, I found a note on my purse but I was thinking that asking for money is probably much harder now. And he was probably desperate.
ReplyDeleteI love etymology and word origins too. So fascinating! I enjoyed your exploration of shrapnel!
You are generous and thoughtful
ReplyDeleteI do not want a cashless society, for many reasons which you and Kezzie have mentioned. I always buy The Big Issue with coins although I noticed the other day the seller had a card device! I find each country's currency fascinating and tells a lot of history and that is another reason for not going cashless. We tend to say small change but my old Dad used to always say dosh. Thank you for a very interesting post. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI grew up saying 'dosh'
DeleteCovid accelerated the race towards a cashless society and sadly, nothing can stop that now. Even ten years ago, I could not imagine paying a bus-fare with plastic and now it is the norm unless paying by phone. I'm not a phone-payer yet but I'm aware that I'm a dinosaur in that respect and that plastic will eventually become as obsolete as cash. As for loose change? Definitely shrapnel.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a phone-payer either.
DeleteWe call it "shrapnel" or "loose change". I don't think I've called it "small change" although in France I apologise if I don't have "petit monnaie" - I don't actually know if it's correct French but people seem to understand. I don't want a cashless society - I have become more used to tapping my card, but I know that some people like to have physical money to see exactly what they have to spend. And as it costs small businesses to take cards I imagine it's better for them to have real money.
ReplyDeleteOne coffee shop in town has a sign saying We Prefer Cash Please
DeleteWe used to call any small coins leftover 'coppers' but now it's 'small change'. I still put all my small change into my little box for when I need it, as it weighs too heavy in my bag. I would never want a cashless society, and I still pay cash as often as I can. It's much easier when you are buying smaller items or from smaller shops on the High Street, they all seem to appreciate not having to pay the fees that the banks charge for card transactions.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI was caught by the term 'koine' in your post. Back in the 1980s I belonged to a bible study group which we called a Koinonia.
ReplyDeleteAs for a cashless society, scarily it does seem to be very close. I travel (from US) quite a bit and have been surprised that I have not needed euros or even pounds when traveling (though I try to have some on me). That has included in recent times France, Italy, Denmark and the UK. This is a bonus for travelers but not such a great thing for those without a bank and credit cards. It also means that businesses inflate their prices to cover the cost of dealing with bank and credit card company charges, so artificially inflating the cost of everything. With so many banks closing not only in the UK but also in the US, it is a terrible strain on those who aren't mobile or are living in reduced circumstances to even find a place to access cash. Too many companies assume everyone has internet access, a mobile, credit cards, banking access--it leaves those without those kinds of resources too often in dire straits.
Ah, well, preaching to the choir here. :)
Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship, a good name for your group
DeleteLoose change in our house. We were entirely cashless for the first year of our marriage; husband's pay packet was a small envelope with a few notes and a varying quantity of coins.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be a great mistake to become a cashless society.
I remember the first time I saw a 'proper' pay packet. My friend's Dad showed me how he could check there were the right number of notes, and see the coins through the little window, to make sure his pay was right [I was about 9] At my Saturday Job in the supermarket when I was 17 we were given a brown envelope with our wages in - but you had to open it to check the money
DeleteAnother vote for paying in cash where possible.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy, and sometimes more convenient to pay with a card, but handing over cash makes me think harder if I really need that item. ~ skye
Physically parting with money DOES remind you you are giving away your cash to get something in return
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