teston

American  

[tes-tuhn, -ton, te-stoon] / ˈtɛs tən, -tɒn, tɛˈstun /

Also testoon

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Also testone a former silver coin of Milan, first issued in 1468, bearing on the obverse a bust of the Duke of Milan.

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teston British  

/ tɛˈstuːn, ˈtɛstən /

noun

1. a French silver coin of the 16th century

2. Also called: tester.  an English silver coin of the 16th century, originally worth one shilling, bearing the head of Henry VIII

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Etymology

Origin of teston

1535–45; < French < Italian testone, augmentative of testa head < Late Latin; testa

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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.