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A minute later they charged into old Hobden at his simple breakfast of cold roast pheasant, shouting that there was a wasps' nest in the fern which they had nearly stepped on, and asking him to come and smoke it out. 'It's too early for wops-nests, an' I don't go diggin' in the Hill, not for shillin's,' said the old man placidly.

(This is from "Rewards and Fairies" by Kipling.)

I do not understand what "not for shillin's," means. Does it mean "for a small money"?

I am glad if someone would give some advice.

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  • Yes, a small amount of money. Shillin' is an abbreviation of shilling, a now obsolete unit of currency.
    – nnnnnn
    Commented May 21, 2016 at 0:26

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It means 'not for just a small amount of money', in reference to shillings (as nnnnnn has commented). The intent here is 'This thing is dangerous, and I'm not going to do it unless I get paid well'.

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    The shilling wasn't always a small amount of money, being made of silver. Here it probably means not for any money as the Hill is inhabited by fairies and you don't mess with them.
    – David Marshall
    Commented May 21, 2016 at 14:10
  • Could you please try to put your answer on this question too: english.stackexchange.com/q/328911/170668 I'm puzzled with this question, i will be waiting for your answer
    – yubraj
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 1:35

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