caution money
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A sum deposited before entering college, or an Inn of Court, etc., by way of security for good behaviour.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “caution money” mean?
A sum deposited before entering college, or an Inn of Court, etc., by way of security for good behaviour.
Is “caution money” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.