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Webster 1913 Edition


Shekel

Shek′el

,
Noun.
[Heb.
shegel
, fr.
shāgal
to weigh.]
1.
An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other nations of the same stock.
☞ A common estimate makes the shekel equal in weight to about 130 grains for gold, 224 grains for silver, and 450 grains for copper, and the approximate values of the coins are (gold) $5.00, (silver) 60 cents, and (copper half shekel), one and one half cents.
2.
pl.
A jocose term for money.

Webster 1828 Edition


Shekel

SHEK'EL

,
Noun.
[Heb. to way; Low L. siclus.] An ancient weight and coin among the Jews and other nations of the same stock. Dr. Arbuthnot makes the weight to have been equal to 9 pennyweights, 2 4/7 grains, Troy weight, and the value of 2s. 3 3/8d. sterling, or about half a dollar. Others make its value 2s. 6d. sterling. The golden shekel was worht 1. 16. 6. pounds sterling, about $8, 12.