Slang terms and nicknames for money have been around for a long time. They reflect the cultures, events, and trends that shape our society. One of the most common slang terms for $100 is “a bill”.
The use of “a bill” as slang for $100 dates back to the late 18th century in the United States. At that time, $100 bills featuring statesman Benjamin Franklin were in common circulation. The term “Benjamin” as another name for a $100 bill also comes from this. Here are some quick facts about the slang use of “a bill” for $100:
- First known use in the 1790s.
- Refers to the $100 bill featuring Benjamin Franklin.
- Still commonly used today in American English.
- Also used in Australian, Canadian, and British English.
Over time, the slang meaning expanded beyond physical $100 bills to being a nickname for the $100 amount in general. So “a bill” can refer to $100 in cash, goods, services or anything else with that monetary value.
Origins
To understand why “a bill” became slang for $100, we need to look back at the history of paper money and language in early America.
In 1775, the Continental Congress issued paper money for the first time to help fund the American Revolutionary War. These early banknotes and bills were denominations of just $1 to $80. It wasn’t until the 1790s that the first $100 notes were printed.
The first $100 bill featured Benjamin Franklin, the famous Founding Father who had passed away in 1790. Having Franklin, a distinguished early American leader, on the large denomination bill gave it an air of importance and legitimacy.
Around this same time in the late 18th century, Americans started using “bill” as slang for paper money and banknotes. One theory is that people referred to paper notes as “bills” because they resembled promissory notes and sales receipts known as bills of exchange. Checks today are still referred to as bank checks or bills of exchange.
So with Franklin’s likeness on this new and sizable $100 denomination, people began calling it specifically “a Benjamin bill”. Over time, this was shortened to simply “a bill” as a nickname for $100.
Early Use
Some of the earliest known uses of “bill” to mean $100 date back to the 1790s in America:
- In a 1791 diary by George Washington, he wrote: “By Cash pd. a Bill of 100 dollars advanced me by Mr. Tracey.”
- In the novel “The History of Maria Kittle” by Ann Eliza Bleecker in 1790: “…he owed me a bill…”
So “bill” was already becoming American slang for paper currency by the time the first $100 notes featuring Benjamin Franklin entered circulation. However, Franklin’s appearance on the bills surely helped popularize “a bill” meaning $100 specifically.
Popularity and Spread
By the mid-1800s, “bill” was firmly established in American English as a nickname for $100, along with “Benjamin”. Mark Twain used “bill” this way in his famous 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:
“If he hadn’t put down that two dollars, he’d be in the river this minute, with a bill in his hand saying ‘most likely a hundred’.”
The popularity of the $100 bill and the “bill” nickname led to other slang terms:
- “C-note” – C is the Roman numeral for 100.
- “Century” or “hundie” – derived from 100.
- “Large” – in contrast to $1 being called a “single”.
By the 1900s, many other English-speaking countries had adopted the “bill” slang meaning $100 from American culture:
- Canada – Used since the 1850s at least.
- Australia – Used since the 1860s during the Gold Rush era.
- United Kingdom – Used since the late 1800s.
So the Americanism spread and became popular common slang in all major English-speaking areas. This was helped by the increased trade and cultural influences between the countries in the early 20th century.
Current Use
Today in the 2020s, Americans continue to use “bill”, “Benjamin”, and “C-note” as common slang terms for $100 cash or any $100 value. However, newer slang has also emerged:
- “Rack” – referring to a stack of 100 one-dollar bills.
- “Dub” – shortened version of “double”, as $100 is double $50.
In other major English-speaking areas like Canada, the UK, and Australia, saying “a bill” or “a Benjamin” for $100 would be well understood, but it is considered an Americanism. The Australian term “century” is still commonly used there however.
The continued prominence of U.S. culture around the world through movies, TV, music, etc. keeps the American slang like “a bill” familiar to many younger English speakers globally. Yet local slang also develops, like…
- UK – “Ton” or “bag” for £100
- Australia – “fiddy” for A$50 which is similar value to US$100
So while the origins are all-American, “a bill”, “a Benjamin” and related terms for $100 are still widely understood slang in the modern English-speaking world.
Conclusion
When paper currency first emerged in the United States in the late 1700s, “bill” became adopted as common slang for any paper banknote or money. But the introduction of the $100 bill featuring statesman Benjamin Franklin in particular led to “bill” and “Benjamin” being associated with that large denomination.
By the mid-1800s, “bill” and related terms were firmly established in American English as nicknames for $100 cash or anything with that value. This usage spread to other major English-speaking countries over the following decades due to increasing cultural connections. While newer localized slang has developed over time, “bill” remains a common understanding globally for $100 due to the ongoing influences of American media and business.
So next time you are talking money with English speakers from Canada to Australia and hear the phrase “He owes me a bill”, you can be certain they mean the sum of 100 dollars, whether it is cash, goods, services, or anything else with that monetary value traced back to old Benjamin Franklin himself on the first $100 American banknotes.
| Decade | Key Events |
|---|---|
| 1770s | Continental Congress issues first US paper currency ($1 to $80 notes) |
| 1790s | First $100 notes with Benjamin Franklin issued |
| 1790s | “Bill” enters slang usage for paper money/banknotes in America |
| 1800s | “Bill” becomes common slang for $100 notes/value |
| 1850s | “Bill” usage spreads to Canada |
| 1860s | Reaches Australia during Gold Rush era |
| Late 1800s | Usage spreads to the United Kingdom |
| 1900s | Common slang globally in English-speaking countries |
The Spread of “Bill” Slang for $100
This table summarizes key events in the emergence and spread of “bill” as slang for $100 over the last 200+ years:
- The usage originated in the United States in the 1790s.
- It gained popularity through the 1800s, becoming very common American slang.
- From the mid-1800s into the early 1900s, it spread to other major English-speaking nations.
- By the 1900s, it was widely understood slang globally.
So in just over 100 years, “bill” went from a new American colloquialism to an internationally recognized slang term. This reflects the rising power and worldwide influence of American language, commerce, and culture starting in the 19th century.
Key Slang Terms
Here are some of the most popular slang words and phrases for $100 from the past to present:
| Slang Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bill | From “bank bill” or “bill of exchange” |
| Benjamin | After Benjamin Franklin on $100 bills |
| C-note | C is Roman numeral for 100 |
| Century | 100 years |
| Hundie | Short for hundred |
| Large | Contrasts to $1 “single” bill |
This table summarizes some key historical and contemporary American slang terms for $100 and where they originated from. The most enduring ones are “bill”, “Benjamin”, and “C-note”.
Key Takeaways
The major points about the slang use of “bill” and related terms for $100 include:
- Originated in the U.S. in the 1790s referring to $100 notes.
- Comes from “bills of exchange” and Benjamin Franklin being on the notes.
- Became very common slang in America by the 1800s.
- Spread to other English-speaking countries in the mid to late 1800s.
- Still widely used and understood slang globally today.
“Bill” is one of the most enduring slang terms in American English and business language. The story of its origins and spread reflect how banking, commerce, and culture interconnected to shape modern English.
Conclusion
In summary, the popular slang use of “bill” and related terms for $100 can be traced back over 200 years to the early days of American paper currency. The introduction of $100 banknotes featuring Founding Father Benjamin Franklin led to “bill” and “Benjamin” becoming synonymous with that amount.
By the mid-to-late 1800s, this had spread from common American slang to being widely understood in other English-speaking countries as well. The rising economic power and cultural influence of America in the 19th and early 20th centuries helped “a bill” for $100 become recognized globally.
It remains a common way to refer to $100 casually in conversation and business dealings among English speakers worldwide. Though localized slang also exists today, “bill” endures as universal shorthand for the $100 amount. So next time you need to specify U.S. currency, remember you can sound cultured and internationally savvy by simply asking for “a bill”.