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oxford scholar
What does oxford scholar mean?
Cockney rhyming slang for 'dollar', which in old British slang meant five shillings (a crown).
"That'll be an oxford, guv."
Origin
'Scholar' rhymes with 'dollar'; refers to Oxford University.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'oxford scholar' mean?
It's Cockney rhyming slang for 'dollar' — 'scholar' rhymes with 'dollar'. In old British money slang 'dollar' meant five shillings.
Why did 'dollar' mean five shillings?
Before decimalisation, 'dollar' was informal British slang for a crown, worth five shillings, so the rhyming slang followed suit.
How is it used?
You'd clip it to 'an oxford', as in 'That'll cost you an oxford.'
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