The ancient Saxon shilling was a coin worth 5d. “To dress fine as fivepence” is to dress very smartly. The Saxon shilling was a far better coin than those made of tin, lead, and other inferior metals.
· ·
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.
· 
· 
· ·