pewter
Preserved but no longer current.
Money, like "tin," used generally to signify silver; also a tankard. "Let me have my beer in the PEWTER," is a common request to waiters, made by "City" men, and others who affect habits of rude health. The pots for which rowing men contend are often called PEWTERS.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pewter” mean?
Money, like "tin," used generally to signify silver; also a tankard. "Let me have my beer in the PEWTER," is a common request to waiters, made by "City" men, and others who affect habits of rude health. The pots for which rowing men contend are often called PEWTERS.
Is “pewter” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.