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shekels - 2 dictionary results

shek⋅el

  [shek-uhl]
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–noun
1. Also, sheqel. a paper money, cupronickel or silver coin, and monetary unit of Israel equal to 100 agorot: replaced the pound in 1980.
2. an ancient, orig. Babylonian, unit of weight, of varying value, taken as equal to the fiftieth or the sixtieth part of a mina or to about a quarter to half an ounce.
3. a coin of this weight, esp. the chief silver coin of the ancient Hebrews.
4. shekels, Slang. money; cash.
Origin:
1550–60; < Heb sheqel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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shek·el   (shěk'əl)   
n.  
    1. Any of several ancient units of weight, especially a Hebrew unit equal to about a half ounce.
    2. A gold or silver coin equal in weight to one of these units, especially the chief silver coin of the ancient Hebrews.
    3. A coin.
    4. shekels Money.
  2. Slang
    1. A coin.
    2. shekels Money.

[Hebrew šeqel, from šāqal, to weigh; see ṯql in Semitic roots.]
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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