cash-balance
UK[ˈkæʃ ˌbæləns]US[ˈkæʃ ˌbæləns]
n
The amount of money a company or person has available at a given time.
n
An accounting method or statement showing this amount.
Morpheme Breakdown
cash
balance
cash
money
balance
equilibrium
Etymology
The term 'cash-balance' is a modern financial compound, fusing two words with distinct historical lineages. 'Cash' originates from the Latin capsa, meaning a box or case for holding items, which evolved through Romance languages to signify ready money. 'Balance' derives from the Latin bilanx, describing a pair of scales used for weighing, a powerful metaphor for equivalence and measurement. The compound logically marries the concrete notion of monetary currency with the abstract concept of measured equilibrium, creating a term that denotes the quantified state of available funds. This reflects a conceptual shift from physical coins in a box to an abstract figure representing financial position.
Analysis
Structure: cash (money) + balance (equilibrium)
- cash: From Old French casse (money box), via Italian cassa, from Latin capsa (box, case). In this compound, it functions as a noun specifying the type of resource.
- balance: From Old French balance (scales), from Latin bilanx (having two scales), from bi- (two) + lanx (plate, scale). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a state of equilibrium or a calculated amount.
Examples
The firm's strong cash-balance allowed it to weather the economic downturn without seeking external loans.
The monthly report always includes a detailed cash-balance statement.
Maintaining a healthy cash-balance is crucial for the liquidity of any small business.