1. A silver coin, and money of account, of Great Britain and its dependencies, equal to twelve pence, or
the twentieth part of a pound, equivalent to about twenty-four cents of the United States currency.
2. In the United States, a denomination of money, differing in value in different States. It is not now
legally recognized.
Many of the States while colonies had issued bills of credit which had depreciated in different degrees
in the different colonies. Thus, in New England currency (used also in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida), after the adoption of the decimal system,
the pound in paper money was worth only $3.333, and the shilling 16 cts., or 6s. to $1; in New York
currency the pound was worth $2.50, and the shilling 12½ cts., or 8s. to $1; in Pennsylvania currency
(also in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland), the pound was worth $2.70, and the shilling 13½ cts., or
7s. 6d. to $1; and in Georgia currency (also in South Carolina), the pound was worth $4.29 and the
shilling 21 cts., or 4s 8d. to $1. In many parts of the country . . . the reckoning by shillings and pence
is not yet entirely abandoned. Am. Cyc.
3. The Spanish real, of the value of one eight of a dollar, or 12 cets; — formerly so called in New York
and some other States. See Note under 2.
York shilling. Same as Shilling, 3.
Shill-I-shall-I
(Shill"-I-shall`-I Shil"ly-shal`ly), adv. [A reduplication of shall I.] In an irresolute, undecided,
or hesitating manner.
I am somewhat dainty in making a resolution, because when I make it, I keep it; I don't stand shill-I-
shall-I then; if I say 't, I'll do 't.
Congreve. Shilly-shally
(Shil"ly-shal`ly), v. i. To hesitate; to act in an irresolute manner; hence, to occupy one's self
with trifles.
Shilly-shally
(Shil"ly-shal`ly), n. Irresolution; hesitation; also, occupation with trifles.
She lost not one of her forty-five minutes in picking and choosing, — no shilly-shally in Kate.
De Quincey. Shiloh
(Shi"loh) n. [Heb. shiloh, literally, quiet, rest, fr. shalah to rest.] (Script.) A word used by
Jacob on his deathbed, and interpreted variously, as "the Messiah," or as the city "Shiloh," or as "Rest."
Shily
(Shi"ly) adv. See Shyly.
Shim
(Shim) n.
1. A kind of shallow plow used in tillage to break the ground, and clear it of weeds.
2. (Mach.) A thin piece of metal placed between two parts to make a fit.
Shimmer
(Shim"mer) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shimmered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Shimmering.] [OE. schimeren,
AS. scimerian; akin to scimian, sciman, to glitter, D. schemeren, G. schimmern, Dan. skimre, Sw.
skimra, AS. scima a light, brightness, Icel. skima, Goth. skeima a torch, a lantern, and E. shine.
&radic157. See Shine, v. i.] To shine with a tremulous or intermittent light; to shine faintly; to gleam; to
glisten; to glimmer.
The shimmering glimpses of a stream.
Tennyson.
