Spondulicks? One of my very favorite words, John, along with hoosegow. I believe I first encountered it in a Leslie Charteris 'Saint' book, probably one that included his gun- & booze-crazy American sidekick Hoppy Uniatz. (Incidentally, my experience with the LR was comparable to yours – an age to get my first win, then a long winning streak. But this year, fuck-all.)

Basil, never mind the LitRev - Leslie Charteris! The Saint! (The original books, of course, not the pallid television or film versions.) And .... Hoppy Uniatz! A man whose verbal infelicities are, to coin a phrase, a joy forever.

The only time I ever saw this word in the USA was in the "Coin World" (coin collecting hobbyist newspaper) in the 1960's and 1970's; where a dealer would often write that he was pursuing "the eluisive spondulix". After several years, I found out from an old-time local dealer, that spondulicks (or the -x version) was originally slang for the 1860's Civil War fractional currency notes, which were 3 to 50 cent Federal currency issued because the public was hoarding all the low denimination silver coins. These old fractional notes are hardly rare, so the dealer in the paper was in pursuit of the elusive current cash.

Odd that it is still current in the UK, since the US fractional notes were redeemed ca. 1873. But Canada issued 50 cent fractionals from about 1900 thru the 1920s, so maybe "spondulicks" migrated up there?

"Hoosegow" is still current, though I like the local term "crowbar hotel" better.

By the way, re. the political comp. on a different thread, is the word "gerrymander" used in the UK?

Hoosegow is quite common still. It's from the Spanish word "juzgado," or "judged."

Douglas, 'gerrymander' is still current here in political and parliamentary contexts. I'd assumed it was from Northern Island, but Massachusetts 1812 and Governor Gerry + salamander from the shape of a district
on a political map, it seems.

Somebody suggests that spondulicks is Greek, from the Greek word for shell. You know, cowrie shells. Except that it isn't.

To be honest I don't think the word is really current, though I heard it on the wireless in the 1950s, I think. Perhaps the Goon Show.

I use it. I use it often. I think it is a word that poor people reach for in the context of monetary acquisition, it having overtones of nonsense and imagination.

Is there a word to capture the pang of realising - as I did in the wee small hours - that one has missed a competition deadline, despite having written (and had helpfully reviewed here) an entry, well in advance?
I think there should be.

...nulliposteratosphericxstentialisturmundrangst, or somesuch?

(tears hair, strides loudly about room uttering wild-eyed oaths, flings self weeping manfully upon horsehair couch) :mad::eek::(

I shall console myself with the hoped-for success of other Eratospherians in this comp, which by form shown here seems likely.

Ah Ann. You use it and I use it. It is therefore current among the educated classes.

John, I don't think I use it, but I'd like to get me 'ands on it. Does that make me a member of the semi-educated classes?