alderman

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A half-crown coin; its value, 30 pence.

Register: slang

Examples

The price of a case (five shillings piece bad) from the smasher is about one shilling; an alderman (two and sixpence) about sixpence; a peg (shilling) about threepence; a downer or sprat (sixpence) about twopence.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A large, protruding, or swollen abdomen; a paunch, a potbelly.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “alderman” mean?

A half-crown coin; its value, 30 pence.

Is “alderman” formal or informal?

alderman is generally slang.