table moneyn.

1565 Ordinance Bk. Merchants of Staple (1937) 160 Sale..only for sterling table money.

1659 M. Johnson Ludgate 20 Table money (as it is commonly called) payd by every prisoner at his Entrance..sixteen pence.

1663 F. Philipps Antiq. Præ-emption & Pourveyance for King 152 Sixteen pence to one of the Stewards of the House for Table-money, out of which candles are to be bought for the use of the House.

1873 W. Thornbury Old & New London I. xix. 225/2 The next day [there was] a due of sixteen pence to one of the stewards, which was called table money.

1705 A. Boyer Hist. Reign Queen Anne: Year the Third 250 For Table Money (tho' not at Sea) 365l.

1744 W. Mountaine Seaman's Vade-mecum 65 Admirals, and Vice-Admirals, are allowed the same Table-Money, when they command in Chief.

1778 T. Baillie Case Royal Hosp. for Seamen 49 This person had interest enough to get himself recommended to Lord Sandwich, by a Noble Duke, in order to be allowed the Table-money of an Officer.

1796 in F. Harrison Life in Medieval College (1952) xv. 266 [£3-6-8 was received from the dean and chapter for] Table-money.

1835 J. E. Alexander Sketches in Portugal vi. 148 A contract was entered into with them.., that they should receive British pay and table-money during the continuance of the war.

1866 Cornhill Mag. Oct. 467 The old screw..saves half his table-money, and gives you stuff to drink only fit to send down the scuppers.

1888 Times 29 June 13/6 An English lieutenant-general, exclusive of table money when in command, receives £2,573.

1974 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 26 May 14/5 Governors in other States of Australia received an allowance called ‘table money’ which enabled them to wine and dine visiting dignitaries.

2002 M. Estensen Life Matthew Flinders xiii. 144 The East India Company, in the meantime, expressed its interest in the expedition with a generous contribution of £600 table money.

1841 G. Parbury Hand Bk. for India & Egypt 317 Table money, say 25 days, at 3 [rupees per diem].

1845 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 25 Oct. 266/1 Members, when intending to dine at the club, fill up a form of dinner-bill... This bill is sent by the head-waiter in attendance to the clerk of the kitchen, who..adds a charge of sixpence,..commonly known as ‘table money’.

1901 Daily News 13 Dec. 7/1 In the lower-priced restaurants it is called ‘table money’, and in the higher-priced ones placed under the captivating heading of couvert.

1927 P. Pinot in M. Augé-Laribé & P. Pinot Agric. & Food Supply in France during War 278 A bill of fare was to be placed on every table showing the price of each item, and of ordinary wine, beer, mineral waters, and coffee, as well as the charge for table-money.

1963 L. De Stefani Rosa xvii. 138 She was full of good ideas for making higher profits, like raising the table-money and making a cover charge for the whisky.

1976 H. Kirk Portrait of Profession ii. 35 Non-subscribers had to pay 8d table-money, which was a stiffish charge when a good lunch cost not more than eighteenpence [sic].