Some think this British slang word for a pound sterling comes from the Latin for "what"
[DOC] [TLE] money slang history, words, expressions and money slang ... [PAR] The front of the coins (the 'front' according to the Mint, although what makes it the 
front and ... Incidentally the term 'Pounds Sterling' - the modern name of the 
British ... not the origin of the S. The  and L symbols were derived from Latin 
term 'libra', ...