针线钱源自英国习俗。缝衣针刚刚发明时,售价很高,而且每年只在元月一日和二日两天有售,用针的多是有钱人。青年男女结亲时,男方通常要给女方一笔专门买针线的钱,遗嘱中也常有一笔专为买针线用的遗赠。后来缝衣针便宜了,妇女们使用针线钱买别的东西。遂以“针线钱”代指零用钱。范布勒《故态复萌》中就有:“他们所谓的针线钱其实是给妻子一些小钱。” Sewing money is derived from British customs. When the sewing needle was invented, the price was very high, and it was only sold every year on January 1st and 2nd day. Most of the needles were rich people. When young men and women get married, the man usually has to give the woman a special purchase of money, and there is also a bequest dedicated to buying needles. Later sewing needles were cheaper, and women used needle money to buy something else.遂 Use “needle money” to refer to pocket money. Van Burley’s “relapse” has: “What they call the needle money is actually giving their wives some money.”