maravedi

From Spanish maravedí, from Arabic مُرَابِطِين‎ (murābiṭīn), an inflected plural of مُرَابِط‎ (murābiṭ, “holy man”), the name of the Almoravid rulers of Muslim Spain during the 12th century. Compare marabout.

• IPA^(key): /mæɹəˈveɪdi/

maravedi (plural maravedis)

1. (historical) A former Spanish coin and unit of currency, originally issued in gold but later in silver and copper, discontinued in 1848.

   • 1819: “an thou dost go on to put thy filthy lucre in the balance with thy daughter’s life and honour, by Heaven, I will strip thee of every maravedi thou hast in the world, before three days are out!” — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe