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

See Examples For:

piece of eight

It was a Spanish piece of eight," said Historian Truman, "and it was thrown across the Rappahannock .

From Time Magazine Archive

He ordered Sancho to take up the helmet, who, holding it in his hand, said, "The basin is a special one, and is well worth a piece of eight, if it is worth a farthing."

From The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

Sir Isaac Newton's assay and representation to the Lords of the Treasury, in 1717, of those which he examined, make their values as follows: The Seville piece of eight .

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson

The name was extended in the form "dollar" to other coins of similar size, notably the old Spanish "piece of eight."

From Anson's Voyage Round the World The Text Reduced by Household, H. W.

The coin most commonly current was the Spanish piece of eight, but the system of weights and measures was the English system, and reckoning was by pounds, shillings, and pence.

From The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896 by Shaw, William Arthur