teston
Americannoun
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a former silver coin of France, equal at various times to between 10 and 14½ sols, bearing on the obverse a bust of the reigning king.
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a former silver coin of England, issued by Henry VII, Henry VIII, and Edward VI, and bearing on the obverse the bust of the reigning king: equal originally to 12 pence, later to sixpence.
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Also testone a former silver coin of Milan, first issued in 1468, bearing on the obverse a bust of the Duke of Milan.
noun
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a French silver coin of the 16th century
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Also called: tester. an English silver coin of the 16th century, originally worth one shilling, bearing the head of Henry VIII
Etymology
Origin of teston
1535–45; < French < Italian testone, augmentative of testa head < Late Latin; see testa
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.
As we entered their den, said a common mumper, to whom we had given half a teston, Worshipful culprits, God send you a good deliverance!
From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 5 by Motteux, Peter Anthony
Une teston d'argent, o� le duc Philibert est d'ung coustel et de l'aultre dame Yolent.
From The First Governess of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria by Tremayne, Eleanor E.
The Henri was issued in 1012; the teston appeared in 1499; and the couronne followed in 1610.
From The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2 by Various
You cannot give him less than a shilling in conscience, for the book he had it out of cost him a teston at least.
From Every Man in His Humor by Jonson, Ben
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.
