subs. (old colloquial).—1.  See quots.

1

  1297.  Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle, 563.

        Þe king of is tresorie eche zer him sende
A certein sume of STERLINGS, to is liue’s ende.

2

  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, 12,841, ‘The Pardoners Tale.’

        Myn holy pardoun may yow alle waryce,
So that ye offre nobles or STERLINGES,
Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes.

3

  1657.  HOWELL, Londonopolis, 25. The lesser payments were in STARLINGS, which was the only coin then current, and stamp’d, which were pence so call’d: the probablest Reason that is given, why it was STARLING money, was, because in the ring or border of the peny, there was a starre stamped.

4

  2.  (police).—A marked or ‘starred’ man.

5
6