Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 15:55:55 -0500

From: Jesse T Sheidlower jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM

Subject: Re: case Ucoin~



Hello! How good is anyone out there with dialect and/or slang

questions? This is not for a patron, just for the curiosity (and

adding of knowledge) of the librarians here. Several of our patrons

use the term "case nickel" or "case quarter" when asking for change.

For example, someone will give us two dimes and a nickel and ask for a

"case quarter." No one who works here has ever heard this expression



_DARE_ has an entry for this, defined as "A coin of a particular

denomination as against the same amount of money comprised of

several coins," with cites back to 1954. It's identified as chiefly

South Carolina, with additional informants from Alabama and Georgia.

I have only heard it personally in the last several years, generally

from black informants.



Jesse Sheidlower

Random House Reference

jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com