DCHP-2

tick DCHP-2 (July 2016)

• n. — slang, informal, Finance, somewhat rare

  credit.

  Type: 5. Frequency — The term appears to be a preservation from British English (see OED-3, s.v. "tick" [n.4]). Although tick meaning 'credit' is currently in use in the UK and New Zealand, as well as minimally in the US, it appears to be much more prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
  See also COD-2, s.v. "tick"(3), which is marked "Cdn & Brit".

  • According to OED-3, tick is a shortened form of "ticket", which is an archaic form of credit, or a note such as an IOU acknowledging indebtedness (see OED-3, s.v. "ticket"[7]).