pelf

For though your honour is kind to me in worldly pelf, yet what shall a man get to lose his soul, as holy scripture says, and please your honour?

Joseph Leman to Lovelace, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

Curiouser, "matted pelf" is (or was, until now) a googlewhack. I now feel drawn by kismet towards the poet Gongora.

I suppose so. But my mistaken definition of pelf was concurrent with a correct understanding of pelt. For some reason the phrase "matted pelf" sticks in my mind.

That would be because of pelt.

For some reason I always thought this word meant animal hide or fur.

"A miser's mind thou hast
Thou has a prince's pelf
Which makes thee wealthy to thine heir--
A beggar to thyself."
--I forget, but I want to say "Shakespeare"

The ultimate question in the derivative suit, is whether a sentient and alert corporate Board of Directors...would conclude he is entitled to depart from its employ while claiming pelf approaching $800,000,000.