Brewer's: Salary

The salt rations. The Romans served out rations of salt and other necessaries to their soldiers and civil servants. The rations altogether were called by the general name of salt, and when money was substituted for the rations the stipend went by the same name. (Latin, salarium, from sal, salt.)

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