slang Any number, collection, or assortment of monetary coins, especially when viewed more as an inconvenience to carry around; loose change. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, New Zealand. I put in a £20 note into the machine to pay for parking, and it spat out £18 worth of shrapnel! I hate carrying shrapnel around in my pocket, so I put it all into a jar at home that I take to the bank at the end of the month.