pelf (pelf)

[Early mod. E. pelfe; piller, rob (> E. pilll ), but the second syllable is not explained. Cf. pelfry, pilfer.] 1. Frippery; rubbish; refuse; trash. [Now only prov. Eng.] Another of our vulgar makers spake as illfaringly in this verse written to the dispraise of a rich man and couetous. Thou hast a misers minde (thou hast a princes pelfe) - a lewde terme to be spoken of a princes treasure, which in no respect nor for any cause is to be called pelfe, though it were neuer so meane, for pelfe is properly the scrappes or shreds of taylors and skinners, which are accompted of so vile a price as they be commonly cast out of dores, or otherwise bestowed vpon base purposes. Putten ham , Arte of Eng. Poesie (Arber reprint), iii. 23. 2. Money; riches; "filthy lucre": a contemptuous term. It has no plural. IMG:content-2576.jpg:[blocks in formation] The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: The Century dictionary pelf Must a game be played for the sake of pelf ? Browning , The Statue and the Bust.