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tick
DCHP-2 (May 2013)
n. — slang, informal, Finance, somewhat rare
credit.
Type: 5. Frequency — The term appears to be a preservation from British English (see OED-3, s.v. "tick" [n.4]). Although tick meaning 'credit' is currently in use in the UK and New Zealand, as well as minimally in the US, it appears to be much more prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "tick"(3), which is marked "Cdn & Brit".
See also COD-2, s.v. "tick"(3), which is marked "Cdn & Brit".
According to OED-3, tick is a shortened form of "ticket", which is an archaic form of credit, or a note such as an IOU acknowledging indebtedness (see OED-3, s.v. "ticket"[7]).
Quotations
1822
Independant [sic] of its own circles of society, which I can assure you, are really unique in their kind, its proximity to your fashionable city renders it an agreeable place of resort, especially during the summer season, for parties of Tonish Bigwigs, fonder of sporting about than of paying their debts; Honest Cits, who are seeking a temporary escape from the toils of business; City-Bucks, who intend to cut a shine and astonish country-folk, mounted on dashing bits of blood got on tick from a livery stable [...]
1859
A Grocer's Store I used to keep,
Yea, Ham and Eggs I sold;
A poor way that to fortune seek,
I found without being told.
Scales, cheese, and helmet,
On tick betimes for pay;
Go follow such who will, I won't;
I've found an easier way.
A Grocer's Store I used to keep,
Yea, Ham and Eggs I sold;
A poor way that to fortune seek,
I found without being told.
Scales, cheese, and helmet,
On tick betimes for pay;
Go follow such who will, I won't;
I've found an easier way.
1875
We know a good many poor young men, but the most romantic thing we have observed about them was their belief in being able to borrow small sums from us. Manuel, Marquis de Champecy, the hero of the piece, is not of this order. He even objects to dining on tick at a restaurant and goes hashless for two days.
1902
"What is a 'ticker,' dear?"
"A telegraph instrument."
"But why do they call it a 'ticker'?"
"Haven't thought about it, but I suppose it is because so many people have to live on 'tick' after watching it."
"A telegraph instrument."
"But why do they call it a 'ticker'?"
"Haven't thought about it, but I suppose it is because so many people have to live on 'tick' after watching it."
1923
There is not a business man in Creston but what knows perfectly well that the man who comes to town with a lonely "five spot" in his pocket (and five spots have been lonesome for some time, and will be lonesome for another year or two), and a consuming thirst is going to go home with his thirst at least partially quenched and without any groceries, or if he takes any home they will be bought on "tick."
1947
[...] senior members of the cabinet have been drumming on the theme that the country is "living on tick (credit)" and that the situation cannot continue if the country is to escape bankruptcy.
1959
The banks have tightened up on loans, certainly, and eventually this may filter through the complex pipeline of the economy and make it tougher for you, the consumer, to buy on tick.
1989
Their days of running errands over, they tell me about the time my father gave them a chocolate biscuit at Christmas or extended their parents a line of credit (tick) during a period of sickness, bad luck or unemployment.
2008
Lender Finance, a Michigan-based car loan company, installs the devices on all automobiles bought on tick by high credit-risk clients.
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
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