slang. ? Obs. (Also as two words.) A gold coin; a guinea or sovereign.
1662. J. Wilson, Cheats, I. i. Do they cry Chink in thy Pocket?—How many yellow Boyes (Rogue) How many yellow Boyes?
1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, III. i. If one could see the yellow boyes peeping underneath the brims now.
1700. T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem., 129. I have … in my Pocket brave Yellow Boys, to pay for a Coat of Arms.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, I. vi. Yellow-boys to fee counsel, hire witnesses, and bribe juries.
1838. Jas. Grant, Sk. Lond., 182. If you don’t fork out the yellow boys (sovereigns) presently, I’ll send a ball through your carcass.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xlii. The delight of picking up the money—the bright, shining yellow-boys.
