half bull
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A coin worth half a crown (two shilling and sixpence; 2s 6d).
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"And would you believe it," he added, with a sudden change of attitude, "I've done fifty-two of those Dam' little tracts, and what d'you reckon I get for them? Half a crown apiece - a miserable half bull," he said, thrusting the insignificance of that sum upon the curate's attention with the stem of
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).
Common questions
What does “half bull” mean?
A coin worth half a crown (two shilling and sixpence; 2s 6d).
Is “half bull” formal or informal?
half bull is generally slang.