subs. (common).—‘More kicks than halfpence.’
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. MONKEY.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, I. ii. When you get on board, you’ll find MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE.
1856. C. KINGSLEY, Letter [3rd abridged ed., 1879], May. You fellows worked like bricks, spent money, and got midshipman’s half-pay (nothing a-day and find yourself) and MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE (more kicks than halfpence).
