ducat
Americannoun
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any of various former European gold or silver coins, esp those used in Italy or the Netherlands
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(often plural) any coin or money
Etymology
Origin of ducat
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Old Italian ducato, from Medieval Latin ducātus “duchy,” probably so called from the Latin words dux or ducātus, which formed part of the legends of such coins; cf. duchy
Explanation
A ducat is a gold coin. Ducat sounds like “duckit” and was used as European currency until the early 20th century. Ducat is an Italian word related to duke. If you recognize this word, you might know it from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which the hero shouts “Dead, for a ducat, dead!” Also, ducat is mentioned so often in The Merchant of Venice that it was slang for “money” or “ticket” for a long time after. But don’t ask for your change in ducats; the cashier probably won’t know what you’re talking about.
Vocabulary lists containing ducat
Romeo and Juliet
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Twelfth Night
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Translated to American, that’s about $465 per ducat or more than double the almost $175 promoted price.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2024
The most coveted ducat goes for $950 — which buys entry to Wednesday's airport shindig and to the Quail, which McCall also operates.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2015
That's less than half the cost of a typical Broadway ducat, and the Royal George offers a more intimate encounter with Leguizamo than is possible at the Lyceum.
From Chicago Tribune • Dec. 30, 2010
He finds it difficult to scream "My daughter, my ducat."
From Time Magazine Archive
We will take you on horseback, and when we have caught the shaveling we will make merry together out of the ducat.
From The Hour Will Come: Volumes I and II A Tale of an Alpine Cloister by Hillern, Wilhelmine von
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
