Definition

1. Noun:
   • Money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract: A sum of money, often an earnest or deposit, paid to secure an agreement, particularly in the context of hiring or purchasing services.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The shepherd paid arles to the farmer to secure his employment for the season.
  • In the old custom, giving arles made the verbal agreement legally binding.

Advanced Usage

• The term "arles" is now largely archaic, dialectal, or regional, primarily found in historical texts or discussions of traditional Scottish and Northern English customs. It is synonymous with an earnest payment.
  • The historical record noted the exchange of arles to finalize the hiring of the farmhands.

Variants and Related Words

• Earnest (noun): A sum of money paid to confirm a contract.
  • He gave an earnest to show he was serious about buying the house.
• Arles-penny (noun, historical/regional): Another term for the earnest money.
  • The arles-penny was traditionally a silver coin.

Synonyms

• Earnest: Money paid to bind a bargain.
• Deposit: A sum paid as a first installment.
• Binder: A preliminary payment securing an agreement.

Related Phrases

• To give arles: To make a preliminary payment to secure an agreement.
  • The merchant was known to give arles to secure the best wool from the Highlands.

Noun

1. money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract