Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—A

Account

Account′

To open an account.

To enter a customer's name on your ledger for the first time. (Latin, accomputare, to reckon with.)

To keep open account

is when merchants agree to honour each other's bills of exchange.

A current account

or

account current
,
a/c
. A commercial term, meaning that the customer is entered by name in the creditor's ledger for goods purchased but not paid for at the time. The account runs on for a month or more, according to agreement.

To cast accounts.

To give the results of the debits and credits entered, balancing the two, and carrying over the surplus.

A sale for the account

in the Stock Exchange means: the sale of stock not for immediate payment, but for the fortnightly settlement. Generally this is speculative, and the broker or customer pays the difference of price between the time of purchase and time of settlement.

We will give a good account of them

—i.e. we will give them a thorough good drubbing

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Accurate
Accost
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