pelf

1. (uncountable, chiefly derogatory, dated) Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly acquired; lucre, mammon.Examples: "Raph. Sirra Hammon Hammon, dost thou thinke a shooe-maker is so base, to be a bawd to his own wife for cõmodity! take thy gold, choake with it: were I not lame, I would make thee eate thy words. Firke. A shoomaker sell his flesh and blood, oh indignitie! Hodg. Sirra, take up your pelfe, and be packing."; "For what greater folly can there be, or madneſſe, then to […] keepe backe from his wife and children, neither letting them, nor other friends uſe or enjoy that which is theirs by right, and which they much need perhaps; like a hog, or dog in the manger, he doth onely keep it, becauſe it ſhall doe no body elſe good, hurting himſelfe and others; and for a little momentary pelfe, damne his owne ſoule."; "During his Office, Treaſon was no Crime. / The Sons of Belial had a Glorious Time: / For Shimei, though not prodigal of pelf, / Yet lov'd his wicked Neighbour as himſelf."Synonyms: accession, acquirement, acquisition, acquist, attainment, gain, gaining, obtainmentdatedderogatoryuncountable

2. (uncountable, dated) Rubbish, trash; specifically (British, dialectal) refuse from plants.Examples: "Now for women, in ſtead of laborious ſtudies, they have curious, needleworkes, Cut-workes, ſpinning, bone-lace, and many prettie deviſes of their owne making, to adorne their houſes, […] Which to her gueſts ſhe ſhews, with all her pelfe, / Thus far my maides, but this I did my ſelf."Synonyms: cultch, crap, debris, dreck, drek, garbage, junk, litterdateduncountable

3. (uncountable, Southwest England) Dust; fluff.uncountable

4. (countable, Yorkshire, derogatory) A contemptible or useless person.Synonyms: absolute zero, asswipe, badling, blatherskite, bugger, carrion, cipher, cockstainAntonyms: worthless person, little guy, nonentity, peasant, peon, pleb, plebe, proleYorkshirecountablederogatory