subs. phr. (old colloquial).—An allowance to a woman for pocket expenses: originally to a married woman by her husband, either by settlement or gift [GROSE, 1785]. Also (modern) the proceeds of adultery or occasional prostitution.
1673. WYCHERLEY, The Gentleman Dancing-Master [LEIGH HUNT, Old Dramatists, 67]. ‘But what allowance?’… ‘Stay let me think! first for advance MONEY, five hundred pounds for PINS.’
1703. STEELE, The Tender Husband, i. 1. The main article with me is, that foundation of wives’ rebellion, and husbands’ cuckoldom—that cursed PIN-MONEY.
1705. VANBRUGH, The Confederacy, iv. But then, sir, her coach-hire, her chair-hire, her PIN-MONEY, her play-money, her china, and her charity would consume peers.
1716. ADDISON, The Free-holder, No. 8, 16 Jan. They have a greater Interest in Property than either Maids or Wives, and do not hold their Jointures by the precarious Tenure of Portions or PIN-MONEY.
1718. HEARNE, Diary, 29 Aug. Mr. Calvert tells me, that the late princess of Orange (wife of him that they call King William III.) had fifty thousand pounds per annum for PIN MONEY (as they commonly call ordinary pocket-money).
1901. Daily Telegraph, 13 Nov., 6, 3. I was to take a profit of 2s. or 3s., his explanation being that he would like to give his wife a little ‘PIN’ MONEY.
