How did the word dough become slang for money?

Answer 1

I would guess it has to do with the slang "Bread" meaning money. Bread, dough... all comes to the same thing, right? And why is 'bread' a slang term for money? Because governments used to actually give bread/grain as welfare.

Bread and Circuses. Keep the rabble happy!

Answer 2

I would hazard a guess the when the Department of Employment was created during the great depression, it's pay slips had the abbreviation D.O.E. which quickly became slang among the down and out men who received these slips of paper to trade for cash. Or I could have just made that whole thing up.

Answer 3

It is the author of the dictionary who made dough as slang for money and people is going along with it, so it was publicly approved without thinking.
jtm