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ducat

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duc⋅at

  [duhk-uht]
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–noun
1. any of various gold coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe, esp. that first issued in Venice in 1284. Compare sequin (def. 2).
2. any of various silver coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe.
3. Slang. a ticket to a public performance.
4. ducats, Slang. money; cash.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < MF < OIt ducato < ML ducātus duchy; prob. so called from the L words dux or ducātus, which formed part of the legends of such coins
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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duc·at   (dŭk'ət)   
n.  

  1. Any of various gold coins formerly used in certain European countries.

  2. Slang

    1. A piece of money.

    2. An admission ticket.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Old Italian ducato, from Medieval Latin ducātus, duchy (a word used on one of the early ducats); see duchy.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ducat 
c.1384, from O.Fr. ducat, from It. ducato, from M.L. ducatus "coin," originally "duchy," from dux (gen. ducis) "duke" (see duke). So called for the name or effigy of Roger II of Sicily, Duke of Apulia, which first issued the coins (c.1140). The legend on them read, "Sit tibi, Christe, datus, quem tu regis, iste ducatus." Byzantine emperor Constantine X had the Gk. form doux struck on his coins during his reign (1059-67). Over the years it was a unit of currency of varying value in Holland, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Venice, etc. Remained popular in slang for "money" or "ticket" from its prominence in "The Merchant of Venice."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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