Meaning of take the shilling | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To enlist as a soldier in the British army or navy by accepting a shilling from a recruiting officer.
   British, historical, intransitive
2. To enlist as a soldier of any military force; to join the armed forces.
   broadly, dated, intransitive
3. To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization.
   broadly, intransitive

Examples

“[O]ne fellow was jilted by his miſtreſs and took the ſhilling in deſpair; […]”

“I have taken the King's shilling, but perhaps if you came for me they would let me go back with you. I was a fool when I did it. I don't want to be in the army.”

“My earlier warnings, both in RAIL and in an article I wrote for The Times, have not fallen on deaf ears. There are many people (I suspect most) in the [rail] industry who recognise that telling people not to use their trains will cause lasting damage, but they are silenced publicly because they are now taking the Government's shilling.”

CEFR level