Noun

1. A coin formerly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries.

   Worth twelve old pence or one twentieth of a pound sterling.

2. The currency of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Usage notes

Abbreviations s. or s or / (solidus) Ksh; (in Somalia) So. Sh.; (in Tanzania) TSh; (in Uganda) UGS
In East Africa, the names of the currencies usually use the proper noun for the country, not its adjectival form: "Kenya shilling", "Tanzania shilling", etc. Amounts are written with a solidus, probably from the UK usage: "2/50" is 2 shillings, 50 cents (not pence); 30 shillings only is written "30/=".

See also

• Wikipedia article on the shilling
• schilling
• skilding
• solidus