This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
The beginning of the story of why American currency is called "bucks" leads us to the era of colonial America and even further, to the Indians and the first European settlers. This story is interesting and a little unexpected, like many other stories behind the words we use every day.
So, to begin with, we need to go back to a time when American lands were not yet fully settled by Europeans. In those days, Indians used deer skins called "buckskins" or simply "bucks" in the trade. Deer skin was of great value and was often used as a kind of currency. For example, it was possible to exchange deer skin for goods or services, and this was quite commonplace.
When Europeans arrived in these lands, they adopted this tradition. For them, "buck" became synonymous with money, because it was the unit of value with which they met the most. Thus, the word "buck" came to mean "dollar" in colloquial language.
But how did "bucks" turn into a name specifically for the dollar? Everything is a little more complicated and interesting here. The fact is that even after the introduction of paper money and coins, the term "buck" remained in use. It was used in informal situations when talking about money in general. But the dollar gradually became the main currency of the United States, and "buck" began to be associated with it.
Another theory that explains why the dollar became a "buck" is related to the use of the word "buck" in card games. In the game of poker, for example, there is a tradition of passing a "buck" (usually a knife with a deer skin pen) from one player to another to determine who will share the cards. Later, this "buck" became a symbol of the money that was bet in the game.
But let's not forget about the fact that the English language is very plastic and easily learns new words and meanings. The Americans, known for their penchant for abbreviations and simplifications, simply took and reduced the long "buckskins" to the short and convenient "bucks".
So, to summarize, the name "bucks" for the dollar comes from the Indian deer skins used as currency, due to the influence of European colonists, card games, and language simplifications. This word has absorbed a centuries-old history of trade, adaptation and cultural change.
When it comes to money, especially dollars, there are many different slang names that are used depending on the amount. Here are some you may have heard or even used:
- Single or Buck – are slang names for one dollar. As we already know, "bucks" has its roots in the history of the deer skin trade.
- Five Spot or Fin – five dollars is often referred to as "five" or "fin". The word "fin" comes from the German "Fünf", meaning five.
- Tenner or Sawbuck – can call ten dollars "ten" or "dogs". "Sawbuck" comes from the shape of the Roman numeral X, which is similar to the shape of a sawing machine.
- Twenty or Double Sawbuck – twenty dollars is often referred to simply as "twenty", but may also be referred to as "double dog", again due to the Roman numeral XX.
- Fifty or Half a Yard – fifty dollars is called "fifty" or "half yard". "Yard" here means one hundred dollars, so "half a yard" – is half that amount.
- Hundred or C-Note, Benjamin – one hundred dollars is called "hundred", "si-note" (from the Latin letter C, which means hundred) or "benjamin", in honor of Benjamin Franklin, whose portrait is depicted on the one hundred dollar bill.
- Grand or G, Stack – a thousand dollars is usually called "grand" or "gi", as well as "stack" (stack), because a thousand dollars in bills looks like a stack.
- Large or Big One – large sums of money are often called "big". For example, "ten large" means ten thousand dollars.
These slang names are often used in everyday life, in business, in movies and even in music. They add color and liveliness to the language, allowing people to express themselves more informally and humorously.
Each of these words has its own history and origin, which makes their use even more interesting. For example, Benjamin and Sea Note became popular due to their widespread use in American films and rap music. Names like "grand" or "gi" are often used in business circles and among young people.
So the next time you discuss money, think of these slang names –, they not only enrich your language, but also give the conversation additional curiosity.
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