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It comes from the reign of Charles ll of England and the stick referred to was a 'Tally stick'. Charles used these as a way to raise money to pay for his various escapades. When a loan was made, the debt was carved in a standard fashion on the surface of a small (preferably hazel-wood) stick, and then the stick was split in half through the center of the carving.
The longer end of the IOU was given to the purchaser, and its handle was called the 'stock'...the root of the word's use in today's markets. Even a mostly illiterate public could read the amount scratched into the wood, and the stick would only fit perfectly with its original other half. That way, when the debtor returned with the money (or goods) owed, the sticks would be matched and the debt would be "tallied."
The King borrowed more and more money using this method, and in the end, could not afford to pay off these debts. So, being the King, he declared that the debts were illegal and refused to make any payments.
Thus he stole a huge amount of the country's gold - having already spent it - and forced the young economy to fall flat on its face. The King's various creditors ended up on 'the short end of the stick' (again, this is the source of that expression) and all credit in the country evaporated pretty much overnight.
(From an article by Matt Collins)
What else can I help you with?
What is the meaning of the idiom 'bad company'?
Bad company means following or joining a wrong set of people and end up doing wrong things that will make you end up somewhere not good eg. prison, asylum e.t.c
Is it wrong to end a sentence with also?
There is no wrong with sentence to end with also. For example, We can do this work also.
What is the meaning of perversion?
The act of perverting, or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use.
What does the expression short end of the candle mean?
It's usually "the short end of the stick," and it means you get the worst of the deal.
What is the origin of - to run out your string?
you have run out your string-a cowboy term meaning you have come to the end of your rope-the end-in calf roping to run out your string meaning to throw your loop and upon catching the calf it goes to the end-meaning it's over...
What is an angle within a polygon?
Interior angle or am i getting the wrong end of the stick?
Is it wrong for the end of your brace to stick out at the back of your mouth and cut your cheek?
yes, it is wrong.
What do you think of WikiAnswers com?
It's briliant, but when I search it in google, this website gets the wrong end of the stick.
What is the meaning of watashi wa kore de owari desu?
wrong categories but it means "this is the end for me"
What do you call the end of a stick?
You call it "the end of a stick". There is no technical name for it.
What do you call a stick with a blade on the end?
The blade at the end of a stick is called a "Bayonet".
What is Tapered stick?
A tapered stick will be thicker at one end.
What is the meaning of the idiom 'bad company'?
Bad company means following or joining a wrong set of people and end up doing wrong things that will make you end up somewhere not good eg. prison, asylum e.t.c
When was Wrong End of the Rainbow created?
Wrong End of the Rainbow was created in 1970-10.
What goes wrong with your digestive system so you end up getting gallstones?
joe coles in westfield ctc is going to get beaten up
How do you Change 3 9 over 10 to an improper fraction?
Assuming you start with three and nine tenths, you multiply the three by ten, add the nine and put the total over ten, getting 39 over 10 (which is very like the figure you began with so I may have got the wrong end of your stick.)
How can someone tell you they love you and not want to connect?
To love someone is connecting in other ways than just love. You must have common interests and find each other interesting. If someone says they do not want to connect then they can't really love you. It is likely that they are using 'love' as a way of getting your attention. Either that or they are just trying to get you to sleep with them. The best thing would be to ask them exactly what they meant as the meaning may have got confused by them or you got the wrong end of the stick.
