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

The standards of gold and silver coin, among the Arabs, were the deenár and the dirhem: therefore, in this work, I call the former "a piece of gold," and the latter "a piece of silver."

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

Quoth Ziad, 'I once brought Omar ben Khettab the like of this, and his son took a dirhem, whereupon Omar bade snatch it from his hand.

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

Was there but one dirhem in the world, thou wouldst obtain it by this means.

From A Boswell of Baghdad With Diversions by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)

I arose trembling and taking the knife and the dirhem, went home where I found my cousin saying, "Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no helper but weeping."

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

Then, throwing the bag over his shoulder, he was going away, when he dropped a dirhem; so he laid the bag off his back and stooped down to pick it up.

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