piastre

noun

pi·​as·​tre pē-ˈa-stər  -ˈä- 

variants or less commonly piaster

1

: piece of eight

2

a monetary subunit of the pound (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria) see pound at Money Table

Word History

Etymology

French piastre, from Italian piastra thin metal plate, coin, from Latin emplastra, emplastrum plaster

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

piastre

noun

pi·​as·​tre pē-ˈas-tər  -ˈäs- 

: a basic unit of money equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ Egyptian, Lebanese, or Syrian pound