Token Payment
Preserved but no longer current.
A small payment made as a formal and binding acknowledgement of indebtedness. The word "token" is often used to describe some action or phrase used in lieu of— but acknowledging — a greater obligation.
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 “Token Payment” mean?
A small payment made as a formal and binding acknowledgement of indebtedness. The word "token" is often used to describe some action or phrase used in lieu of— but acknowledging — a greater obligation.
Is “Token Payment” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.