Quote:
Originally Posted by Blossom
Actually the term cash means a box of money not money itself and it wasn't used in the context we use it today yet so asking if you have cash was not common use back then so it's seriously being misused by the author. I think the correct term would be coin or just money.
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cash
1593, from M.Fr. caisse "money box," from Prov. caissa, It. cassa, from L. capsa "box" (see case (2)); originally the money box,
but the secondary sense of the money in it became sole meaning 18c. Verb meaning "to convert to cash" (as a check, etc.) is first attested 1811.
(relevant section bolded by me) Source: Online Etymology Dictionary
I'm sure there are still plenty of words that are not time-period correct being used in historical romances (mistoricals). My overall point is that it can be difficult to tell linguistic accuracy based on modern sensibilities and ideas of when words were actually used. Your mileage may very. Void where prohibited.
And if the book you were talking about takes place before the 18th century, then feel free to ignore my whole point anyway.
Since time-period-appropriate language is very much your thing, Blossom, have you read Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories books? She made a whole specialty spellcheck dictionary with only words that were used during the time period in question. I've only read the first book,
Shades of Milk and Honey, and it's wonderful. They're Austen-like romances with a little magic thrown in. Highly recommended.