piece of eight

English

Noun

piece of eight (plural pieces of eight)

A piece of eight
  1. (historical) The peso, a silver coin that was minted in Spain and its colonies from the end of 15th century, equal to eight reales (hence the name).
    Synonyms: dollar, peso, piastre
    • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
      It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were of all countries and sizes — doubloons, and louis d'ors, and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what besides, all shaken together at random.

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