scrip
UK[skrɪp]US[skrɪp]
n
A certificate representing a right to receive something, such as a dividend or shares, often issued temporarily.
n
Paper currency or a token issued for temporary use in an emergency.
n
A small piece of paper, especially one with a short written note.
Etymology
The word 'scrip' emerged in the 18th century as a shortened form of 'subscription receipt' or an alteration of 'script,' in the sense of a written certificate. Its core logic lies in representing value or a claim through a written document, a concept that evolved from the practice of issuing provisional certificates for shares or dividends. This temporary, paper-based token of entitlement reflects its origins in financial and bureaucratic shorthand, where the physical 'script' stood in for a future, more substantial transaction or currency.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is a shortening of the word "subscription receipt" or "script," and functions as a whole unit in modern English.
Examples
The company paid the dividend in scrip rather than cash.
During the siege, the town issued its own scrip to keep the local economy functioning.
He scribbled the phone number on a scrap of scrip.