meaning - English Language Usage Stack Exchange 1864 John Hotten adds ducats as theatrical slang for "money" to his slang dictionary (It doesn't appear in the 1860 second edition of the dictionary ) 1866 Henry Williams, in a book about life in New York, uses ducats in the sense of money, indicating that the usage exists in England and the United States
etymology - Yikes! Where did it come from? - English Language Usage . . . When I tail 'em and cockatoo 'em buyin' their ducats for the yike, I know I'm sweet— Jacks never pay for nothin' " Here yike seems to refer to the game or sporting event or (perhaps) prize fight at which the scalper is trying to resell his "briefs" (tickets)