dirhem

American  

[dir-hem, dih-rem, dir-uhm] / dɪrˈhɛm, dɪˈrɛm, ˈdɪr əm /

noun

1. any of various fractional silver coins issued in Islamic countries at different periods.

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Etymology

Origin of dirhem

First recorded in 1780–90; variant of dirham

Example Sentences

When the merchants heard this, they hung back and dared not bid another dirhem, knowing what they did of the Vizier's tyranny.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume I by Payne, John

Yussuf then threw the driver of the beast half a dirhem and dismissed him, breathed as if fatigued with his journey, and wiped his brow with his sleeve.

From The Pacha of Many Tales by Marryat, Frederick

The "mithḳál" is the weight of a deenár, or a dirhem and a half,—in Cairo, about 71-1/2 or 72 English grains.

From The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Anonymous

"By Allah," cried I, "I conjure thee to explain to me the meaning of the knife and the dirhem."

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume II by Payne, John

That is why I took the trouble to find the dirhem.'

From Malayan Literature by Various