sterling

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstɜːlɪŋ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈstɜɹlɪŋ/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈstɛɾlɪŋ/ Homophone: Stirling (fern–fir–fur merger) Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)lɪŋ Hyphenation: ster‧ling === Etymology 1 === From Middle English sterling, possibly from Old English *steorling, from steorra (“star”) and -ling, in reference to the stars that appeared on certain English pennies. Alternatively, the first element may be *stēre, meaning “strong” or “stout” (compare the etymology of solidus). ==== Noun ==== sterling (countable and uncountable, plural sterlings) (countable, obsolete except historical) An English silver penny first introduced by the Normans. (by extension) (countable) A penny issued in other countries, such as Scotland. (uncountable) The currency of the United Kingdom, based on the pound sterling; hence, genuine English or British currency, as contrasted with foreign currency. (uncountable) Short for sterling silver (“an alloy containing not less than 92.5 percent silver, the remainder usually being copper; articles made from this alloy collectively”). (uncountable, historical) Former British gold or silver coinage of a standard fineness (0.91666 for gold and 0.925 for silver). (obsolete) (countable) Synonym of pennyweight (“a unit of mass equal to 24 grains, or 1⁄20 of a troy ounce”) (uncountable) Money generally. (uncountable) The standard degree of fineness. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Adjective ==== sterling (not generally comparable, comparative more sterling, superlative most sterling) (not comparable) Of or relating to the currency of the United Kingdom, or former types of English or British coinage. Of silver: being of standard quality. Of a thing: of or relating to, or made from, sterling silver. (archaic) Of English (or (obsolete) Scottish) currency: genuine, of legal tender. (comparable, figurative) Of acknowledged influence; authoritative; also, of high or excellent quality; of proven worth. (obsolete) Having currency (“general acceptance, recognition, or use”). ===== Derived terms ===== sterlingly sterlingness ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === See starling (etymology 1). ==== Noun ==== sterling (plural sterlings) Obsolete form of starling (“a family, Sturnidae, of passerine birds; specifically, the common starling, Sturnus vulgaris, which has dark, iridescent plumage”). [Middle English–18th c.] === Etymology 3 === See starling (etymology 2). ==== Noun ==== sterling (plural sterlings) (construction) Obsolete form of starling (“an enclosure like a coffer-dam, formed of piles driven closely together before any structure or work, as a protection against the wash of waves, commonly used to protect the piers of a bridge”). [18th–20th c.] === Further reading === pound sterling on Wikipedia.Wikipedia sterling silver on Wikipedia.Wikipedia sterling (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === Giltners, Tinglers, glistren, ringlets, tinglers, tringles == Middle English == === Alternative forms === sterlinge, starling, strīling === Etymology === Possibly from Old English *steorling, from steorra (“star”) and -ling, in reference to the stars that appeared on certain English pennies. Alternatively, the first element may be *stēre, meaning “strong” or “stout” (compare the etymology of solidus). === Noun === sterling (plural sterlings or sterlinges or sterlingges or sterlingues or starlingus) an English silver penny ==== Descendants ==== English: sterling → Old French: esterlin → Old Italian: esterlino → Old Galician-Portuguese: esterlino Galician: esterlino Portuguese: esterlino → Old Occitan: esterlin → Old Catalan: sterlí Catalan: esterlí → Old Leonese: esterlin, sterlin, sterllin → Old Navarro-Aragonese: esterlin, desterlin, desterlinquo → Old Spanish: esterlin → Old Leonese: sterlingo, esterlingo (through a Latin form?) ==== References ==== “sterling, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 May 2026. == Polish == === Etymology === Borrowed from English sterling. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈstɛr.liŋk/ Rhymes: -ɛrliŋk Syllabification: ster‧ling === Noun === sterling m animal alternative form of szterling Synonyms: funt, funt sterling, funt szterling, szterling ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “sterling”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[3] (in Polish)