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Tommy Shop "Where wages are paid to workmen who are expected to lay out a part of the money for the good of the shop. Tommy means bread or a penny roll, or the food taken by a workman in his handkerchief; it also means goods in lieu of money." Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable - 1898 Also some interesting related historical background can be found here: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/work/sullivan/17.html Regards, Ted