Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A gold coin struck in Spain by the Moorish dynasty of Almoravides in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. It weighed about 60 grains. -2. In later times, the smallest denomination of Spanish money, varying in value from a little less to a little more than half an English farthing or quarter of a United States cent.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Numis.) A small copper coin of Spain, equal to three mils American money, less than a farthing sterling. Also, an ancient Spanish gold coin.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical A former Spanish coin and unit of currency, originally issued in gold but later in silver and copper, discontinued in 1848.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Spanish maravedí, from Arabic مرابطين (murābiŧīn) (an inflected plural of مرابط (murābiŧ)), the name of the Berber rulers of Muslim Spain during the 12th century. Compare marabout.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "'...at this point no bank in those parts could without long notice raise so much—let alone advance a single maravedi on such security.'"

    --Patrick O'Brian, The Hundred Days, 21

    March 20, 2008

  • ...pretty fellows, with vanity in their hearts, tinsel on their backs, and not a maravedi in their pockets...

    - Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 5 ch. 1

    September 19, 2008