piece of eight

American  

noun

1. peso.

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piece of eight British  

noun

1. a former Spanish coin worth eight reals; peso

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Etymology

Origin of piece of eight

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Nat held my hand and we exited the meticulously groomed reality, with its 1,838-foot-long channel and four hundred thousand gold pieces of eight, all of them fake.

From The New Yorker

That meant its treasure of Spanish escudos and pieces of eight reached the seabed in one very specific spot.

From BBC

There were the three canvas sacks closed with copper wire, and inside of them the seven thousand two hundred fourteen pieces of eight, which continued glowing like embers in the darkness.

From Literature

King had a piece of eight of the world’s top 10 heavyweights.

From The Guardian

Cob coins, also known as “pieces of eight,” will be on display.

From Washington Times