subs. (old).—A coin: spec. a gold piece. In pl. = money: generic: Also SHINO and SHINERY.
1760. FOOTE, The Minor, ii. To let a lord of lands want SHINERS, ’tis a shame.
1781. MESSINK, The Choice of Harlequin, ‘Ye Scamps, Ye Pads, Ye Divers,’ ii. First you touch the SHINERS.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 27. Who knows but, if coax’d, he may shell out the SHINERS?
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. i.
| But when from his pocket the SHINERS he drew, | |
| And offered to ‘make up the hundred to two.’ |
1839. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xix. ‘Fagin,’ said Sikes … ‘is it worth fifty SHINERS extra, if it’s safely done from the outside?’
1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, 82. In one corner … was stowed away a goodly quantum of the ‘SHINERS.’
1856. C. READE, It Is Never Too Late to Mend, i. We’ll soon fill both pockets with the SHINERY in California.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un, 8. I don’t want a SHINER that’s only splashed.
1892. CHEVALIER, Idler, June, p. 549, ‘A Coster Song.’
| I’ve got a little nipper, when ’e talks | |
| I’ll lay yer forty SHINERS to a QUID | |
| You’ll take ’im for the father, me the kid. |
1890. Detroit Free Press, 10 May. Come, down with the SHINO.
2. (old).—A looking-glass (GROSE and VAUX).
3. (common).—A silk hat.
1885. FRANCIS, A Book on Angling, 179. A tall black hat, or one of the genus called ‘SHINER,’ I do not recommend.
1902. Daily Telegraph, 31 Oct., 10, 6. The little man with the tall SHINER.
4. (old).—A clever fellow.
5. (tailors’).—A boaster. Also SHINE = to boast.
THE SHINERS, subs. (military).—The Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly The 5th Foot. [From smart appearance at the time of The Seven Years’ War.]
