The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI haven't heard this in a long time, people staying something costs two, four, six, or 8 bits.
Older people would use this term when I was little kid.
I have never used it, but I know what it means.
I have some Kenndy 4 bit pieces sitting on the table I was looking at.
Denninmi
(6,581 posts)Bits, bytes, mega, giga, terra.
I'm almost fifty, and I never heard of the monetary term except in connection with old literature or lyrics such as "shave and a haircut 2 bits".
I honestly don't know what it was -- was it a 12 1/2 cent piece (1/8th of dollar, half of quarter) or something?
texanwitch
(18,705 posts)I think the usage was used until the 60's or so and then died out.
Maybe it was a more country term.
byeya
(2,842 posts)people used it a lot.
You can't buy much for a quarter or 50 cents anymore so the 2 bits and 4 bits wouldn't come up too much.
texanwitch
(18,705 posts)I put eight bits into a Coke machine yesterday and the machine give me back the coke and the eight bits.
byeya
(2,842 posts)and it was in common usage.
I think you are correct: It died out in the 60s.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Of course, that was when coins were actually made of valuable metals. For smaller denominations, they'd slice the coins and hence the word "bits" - not to be confused with "naughty bits" mind you. Those are an entirely different thing. Four bits is two many - I only have two hands.