British slang for a sovereign — the gold coin worth one pound sterling that was a standard unit of currency through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Sovereigns became iconic symbols of wealth, and getting or spending a sovvy had weight. The coin is still minted today as a collectible and store of value, so 'sovvy' occasionally resurfaces in antiques, numismatics, or nostalgic conversation, though it's far less common than it once was on the streets.
The old pawnbroker bit the sovvy between his teeth before nodding and sliding it into his drawer.
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(UK, slang) A sovereign .
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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