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Webster 1913 Edition


Sterling

Ster′ling

,
Noun.
(Engin.)
Same as
Starling
, 3.

Ster′ling

,
Noun.
[OE.
sterlynge
,
starling
, for
easterling
, LL.
esterlingus
, probably from
Easterling
, once the popular name of German trades in England, whose money was of the purest quality: cf. MHG.
sterlink
a certain coin. Cf.
East
. “Certain merchants of Norwaie, Denmarke, and of others those parties, called Ostomanni, or (as in our vulgar language we tearme them),
easterlings
, because they lie
east
in respect of us.”
Holinshed.
“In the time of . . . King Richard the First, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie began to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called
Easterling
monie, as all inhabitants of those parts were called
Easterlings
, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and allaies, were sent for into this realme to bring the coine to perfection; which since that time was called of them
sterling
, for
Easterling
.”
Camden.
“Four thousand pound of
sterlings
.”
R. of Gloucester.
]
1.
Any English coin of standard value; coined money.
So that ye offer nobles or
sterlings
.
Chaucer.
And Roman wealth in English
sterling
view.
Arbuthnot.
2.
A certain standard of quality or value for money.
Sterling
was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second’s reign.
S. M. Leake.

Ster′ling

,
Adj.
1.
Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage;
as, a pound
sterling
; a shilling
sterling
; a penny
sterling
; – now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but
sterling
cost,
sterling
value, are used.
“With sterling money.”
Shak.
2.
Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value;
as, a work of
sterling
merit; a man of
sterling
good sense
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sterling

STERLING

,
Adj.
[probably from Easterling.]
1.
An epithet by which English money of account is distinguished; as a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling. It is not now applied to the coins of England; but sterling cost, sterling value are used.
2.
Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; as a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling wit or good sense.

STERLING

,
Noun.
1.
English money.
And Roman wealth in English sterling view.
In this use, sterling may signify English coins.
2.
Standard; rate. [Little used in either sense.]

Definition 2024


Sterling

Sterling

See also: sterling

English

Proper noun

Sterling

  1. A Scottish surname, variant of Stirling.
  2. An English surname, thought to be a variant of Starling.
  3. A male given name transferred from the surnames.
  4. A female given name

Anagrams

sterling

sterling

See also: Sterling

English

Noun

sterling (countable and uncountable, plural sterlings)

  1. The currency of the United Kingdom; especially the pound.
  2. Former British gold or silver coinage of a standard fineness: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925.
    • S. M. Leake
      Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign.
  3. Sterling silver, or articles made from this material.
  4. A structure of pilings that protects the piers of a bridge; a starling.

Translations

Adjective

sterling (not comparable)

  1. of, or relating to British currency, or the former British coinage.
  2. of, relating to, or made from sterling silver.
  3. Of acknowledged worth or influence; high quality; authoritative.
    • 2014 December 13, Mandeep Sanghera, “Burnley 1-0 Southampton”, in BBC Sport:
      Southampton had been hoping to get back to winning ways to prove to their critics there was substance to their sterling start to the season.
  4. Genuine; true; pure; of great value or excellence.
    • 2016 January 31, "Is Huma Abedin Hillary Clinton’s Secret Weapon or Her Next Big Problem?," Vanity Fair (retrieved 21 January 2016):
      But Rodríguez says, “Neither the law nor the facts support Senator Grassley’s baseless allegations and extrapolated conclusions. It is disappointing that the senator and his staff continue to focus a politically motivated campaign on Ms. Abedin, who has been known her entire professional life for hard work, integrity, and her sterling reputation. It is people like Ms. Abedin whom we should all want in public service.”

Translations

Anagrams