siege piece

noun

1. a piece of gold or silver stamped as provisional legal tender in a besieged area.

Word History and Origins

Origin of siege piece¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Shot and shell struck the engine, the iron penthouse roof over the siege-piece, the flat car, the bridge itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The near gun is a 32-pounder navy; the far one, a 24-pounder siege-piece.

From Project Gutenberg

The shell called heavy will be 5¾ feet in length, and weigh 2,310 pounds, say more than a 4¾ inch siege piece!

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place, we have a gun of very great caliber—a 13¼ inch steel coast and siege piece.

From Project Gutenberg