1750–60, after the name Joannes (John V, of Portugal) in the coin's legend. See John
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A full johannes was called a "half-joe," and a double johannes was called a "joe."
From The Stronghold A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People by Haynie, Miriam
Thou hast swept the pavilion of my niece of its mistress, no less than my purse of its johannes.
From The Water-Witch or, the Skimmer of the Seas by Cooper, James Fenimore
Of gold pieces there were the johannes, or joe, the doubloon, the moidore, and pistole, with English and French guineas, carolins, ducats, and chequins.
From The Critical Period of American History by Fiske, John
The moidore was worth six pieces of eight, the pistole four, the johannes eight.
From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)
I heard also that Mary Blankaart has lost a silk purse, and in it five gold jacobus, and some half and quarter johannes.
From The Bow of Orange Ribbon A Romance of New York by Hampe, Theo.
The author of the original anthology was a man named Johannes who hailed from the Macedonian town of Stobi.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
More than a century ago, Albert Einstein and Wander Johannes de Haas demonstrated that changing the magnetization of a material could physically cause it to rotate.
From Science Daily ● May 24, 2026
Loyola’s Ejam Johannes won the Division I race in 46.70.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026
Austrian vocalist Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, triumphed at Basel in 2025 with his operatic song "Wasted Love".
From Barron's ● May 16, 2026
This backward-looking astronomer had been born in 1611, which perhaps explains his old-fashioned attitude, and christened Johann Höwelcke, but Latinized his name to Johannes Hevelius.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
