Petty cash

The term ‘petty cash’ derives directly from the word ‘petty’ meaning ‘minor’; ‘small’; ‘of secondary importance’. ‘Petty cash’ was a small amount of cash that was kept aside for trifling purchases, too small to require the effort of the making out and cashing of a cheque.

The first use of ‘petty cash’ that I can find in print in the instructional document published in London by Benjamin Billingsley – Advice to the women and maidens of London, 1678:

…House-keeping, and other petty Charges, my Father made it my office to… set all down in a book.

Now in regard that other learnings do depend upon this petty Cash account; I find it therefore convenient to give you an example of a moneths expence, and you will thereby see what further use may be made of it afterwards.

The text refers throughout to the writer being a woman but, as was the custom at that date, the author’s name is omitted.