simon
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Uncertain. One theory suggests derivation from a joke based on the bible verse Acts 9:43,[1] rendered as “Peter lodged with Simon a tanner”, a pun on the meanings of lodge (“stay in a place; put away money”).[2] Partridge suggests that this not possible given the dates, however, and suggests instead derivation from some unknown person’s name.[3] Attested from the late 17th century, with synonymous tanner attested from the 18th.[3] Compare also simony, from a different biblical figure, Simon Magnus.
The “US dollar” sense derives from the earlier “sixpence”, perhaps influenced by the $ symbol.[4]
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
simon (plural simons)
Related terms edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1611, →OCLC, Acts 9:43: “And it came to passe, that he taried many dayes in Ioppa, with one Simon a Tanner.”
- ^ Jonathon Green (2024) “simon n1.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang. See also tanner n.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eric Partridge (1937) “simon (or S.)”, in A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English […] , London: Macmillan, page 770
- ^ “Simon, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, July 2023.
