ˈsmart-money
[f. smart n.1]
1. A sum of money paid to sailors, soldiers, workmen, etc., as compensation for disablement or injuries received while on duty or at work.
| 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2836/3 Smart-Money to such Seamen as have been Wounded in Their Majesties Service. 1696 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 28 No seaman..not registred shall have any smart money. 1758 J. Blake Mar. Syst. 62 To say nothing of smart-money, those in the navy are entitled to short allowance money. 1809 Langford Introd. Trade 112 Also to all such pensions, salaries, smart-money,..which..may be due. 1840 Hood Up Rhine 262, I do hope..that the King of Prussia will double that poor fellow's smart-money. 1860 Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. (ed. 2) 63 Smart money, money paid weekly by the owners to persons who have received an injury in the work. |
b. Any compensation made for injury or the like; also spec. in U.S. Law (see quot. 1851).
| 1749 Fielding Tom Jones iii. viii, Mr. Allworthy gave Tom Jones a little horse, as a kind of smart-money for the punishment. 1851 A. M. Burrill New Law Dict. ii. 936 Smart-Money... Damages beyond the value of a thing sued for, given by a jury in cases of gross misconduct or cruelty on the part of a defendant. 1890 Hall Caine Bondman ii. i, He..sent Adam Fairbrother an instant warning, with half-a-year's salary for smart money. |
2. Money paid to obtain the discharge of a recruit who has enlisted in the army.
| 1760 Cautions & Advices to Officers of Army 144 This Sum the Officer generally divides among his Recruiting Party,..and the more there are who pay this Smart-money, as they call it, the more they share. 1778 Ann. Reg. 196 The law..gives a certain time for those who are inlisted to get off, upon returning the inlisting money and what is called the smart money. 1844 Queen's Regul. & Ord. Army 390 When Recruits are set at liberty by a magistrate, on the payment of smart-money. 1894 Daily Telegr. 11 Jan. 5/7 When a young man he enlisted, but his father paid the smart money,..and secured his release. |
b. Money paid on account of cancelling or not fulfilling a bargain or agreement, or in order to free oneself from some disadvantage, recover some lapsed privilege, etc.
| 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvii, He accomplished the exchange..; nor did I hear further of his having paid any smart-money for breach of bargain. |
† 3. (See quot. and cf. garnish n. 5.) Obs.
| 1856 De Quincey Conf. Wks. 1862 I. 151, I have always looked upon this fine of five or seven shillings (for wax that you do not absolutely need) as a sort of inaugural honorarium entrance-money, what in jails used to be known as smart money. |