How did "sawbuck" come to refer to a $10 bill?
Originally, a sawbuck (or, more commonly, sawhorse) referred to a movable frame used to support wood while it is being sawed. "Sawbuck" is probably a borrowing from the Dutch word zaagbok, literally "saw-trestle."
Also originally, a $10 bill had the roman numeral X '10' printed on it. Most U.S. paper currency had values in roman numerals; even in the early nineteenth century bills were called "Vs," "Xs," "Cs," and so forth. The "C" for a $100 bill is the origin of the current term "C-note." A $10 bill, already called an "X," started being called a "sawbuck" because of the resemblance of the letter "X" to the crossed legs of the sawhorse.
The popularity of "sawbuck" was strengthened by the word buck 'a dollar', itself of obscure origin, which arose slightly later.
Sawbuck is first found in 1850 in the once common expression "double sawbuck," meaning a $20 bill or $20. Another, recent variant is sawski. "Sawbuck" itself, like "dime," is also used to refer to a ten-year prison sentence.
all that alone should be worth a sawbuck
lets get ur done
Topic: The "Get Chryco Psycho to Carlisle Fund" Current Total: $601....Still Growing! (Read 24506 times)
