TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
SHINPLASTER [1 record]
Record 1 - internal organization data 1997-01-29
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Coins and Bank Notes
- Numismatics
- Coining
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- fractional
1, record 1, English, fractional
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- "25¢ paper note" 1, record 1, English, %5C%2225%C2%A2%20paper%20note%5C%22
correct, see observation
- 25-cent paper note 1, record 1, English, 25%2Dcent%20paper%20note
correct
- shinplaster 1, record 1, English, shinplaster
correct, see observation, noun
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The Dominion 25-cent note issued in 1870, 1900, and 1923. 1, record 1, English, - fractional
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
During the Revolutionary War, General Washington's troops stuffed the deflated paper money of the day into their stockings to help protect their shins from the chilly temperatures of the winter. From this practice arose the slang expression "shinplaster" to characterize any low-value paper currency. The low-denomination merchant's notes circulating in large quantities in British North America (particularly Lower Canada) during late 1830s were dubbed "shinplasters", as were the 25-cent paper notes issued in 1870 and later. 1, record 1, English, - fractional
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
See related term: paper fractional currency. 1, record 1, English, - fractional
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 3 OBS
shinplaster: informal term. 1, record 1, English, - fractional
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 4 OBS
The term "25-cent paper note" was formerly written "25¢ paper note". 1, record 1, English, - fractional
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Pièces de monnaie et billets de banque
- Numismatique
- Monnayage
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- billet de 25 cents
1, record 1, French, billet%20de%2025%20cents
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- fractional 1, record 1, French, fractional
correct, masculine noun
- shinplaster 1, record 1, French, shinplaster
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Billet de vingt-cinq cents émis par le Dominion en 1870, 1900 et 1923. 1, record 1, French, - billet%20de%2025%20cents
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
L'utilisation de «shinplaster»(emplâtre à tibia) vient de ce qu'à un moment de la Guerre de l'Indépendance américaine, les soldats de Washington emplirent leurs bas de billets alors dévalués pour se protéger les jambes contre le froid hivernal. Cette pratique entraîna le recours à «shinplaster» pour désigner toute monnaie de papier de petite valeur. Le terme fut repris au Canada, d’abord à la fin des années 1830, alors que de grandes quantités de billets de marchand de faible valeur circulaient en Amérique du Nord britannique, et surtout au Bas-Canada, puis à partir de 1870, avec l'émission de billets de 25 cents. 1, record 1, French, - billet%20de%2025%20cents
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada
Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: