 To "take the King's shilling" was to enlist in the army or navy, a phrase dating back to the early 19th century.To "cut someone off with a shilling", often quoted as "cut off "without" a shilling" means to disinherit.Although having no basis in British law, some believe that leaving a family member a single shilling in one's will ensured that it could not be challenged in court as an oversight.