1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, ch. ii.
Don’t put up another chip till I look at my hand.
3. (American).—Cards. [Mr. C. Nordhoff writing to Mr. John Camden
Hotten, on 1 May, 1865, states that ‘chips = slang for cards.’]
4. (common).—Money. [This usage is derived through sense 2, and passes
naturally to sense 5 (q.v.).]
1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. xlix. You kent fool away
your hand and keep the chips.
1885. Sporting Times, 23 May. ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’ The
landlady came and knocked at the door—(Sing Fulham Road), Saying
she’d have to clear out, and swore She’d distrain on her wardrobe
what was more (Because of the chips she owed).
5. (general).—A sovereign. Used both in sing. and pl.—See quot. under
Chip, sense 3, and Cf., preceding sense.