zecchinohttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zecchino_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezecchino, n.
Revised 2018

zecchinonoun

Now historical or archaic.
  1. 1572–
    A gold coin of a type minted by the Republic of Venice from the 13th cent., and until the 19th cent. widely used in trade and commerce throughout Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, and further afield; any of various similar coins minted elsewhere, esp. those produced to the same standards as the Venetian coin for the purpose of facilitating international trade; a ducat. Also occasionally more generally: †a coin; a piece of money (obsolete). Cf . chequin n., ducat n., sequin n. 1.
    α forms
    1. 1572
      I..gaue my selfe slaue to one Sangaccho del Bir, promising hym 500. Zechins [Italian cechini] for my raunsome.
      W. Malim, translation of N. Martinengo, True Rep. Famagosta f. 13v
    2. 1575
      Zechines of glistering golde, two thousand was his price.
      G. Gascoigne, Hundred Flowers in Works (1907) vol. I. 77
    3. 1613
      Euery Zequi being sixteene ryalls, and with vs eight pence.
      S. Purchas, Pilgrimage vii. iv. 564
    4. 1617
      In Turkey the gold zechines of Venice are most currant.
      F. Moryson, Itinerary i. 276
    5. a1701
      For which they pay the Turks a Rent of one Zequin a day.
      H. Maundrell, Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 100
    6. 1727
      I presented the Officer..with five Zequeens.
      A. Hamilton, New Account of East Indies vol. I. 304
    7. 1766
      Two scudi make a zequine; and a French loui'dore is worth about two zequines.
      T. Smollett, Travels France & Italy vol. II. xxx. 107
    8. 1819
      They would swear the mother that bore them a sorceress for a zecchin.
      W. Scott, Ivanhoe vol. III. vi. 153
    9. 1841
      The Italian zecchin, is worth about $2.30; and the Venetian pistole, $3.88... The Turkish piastre..is worth 37 cents; the zecchin, $1.35.
      R. Park, Pantology xiv. vi. 483
    10. 1857
      If you don't choose to submit to be cheated by them out of a ducat here and a zecchin there, you will be cheated by them out of your picture.
      J. Ruskin, Political Economy of Art ii. 124
    11. 1960
      Mogadishu, it seems, may have imported Venetian zecchins.
      Journal African History vol. 1 40
    12. 2004
      Nerli asks for an estimate on Papi's work, recommending 100 zecchins for the difficulty of the operation that had to be carried out.
      F. Falletti in S. Bracci, Exploring David 63/1
    β forms
    1. 1595
      Cecchino, or Zecchino, a Venetian Duckate.
      A. Hartwell, translation of G. T. Minadoi, Hist. Warres Turkes & Persians sig. HHh2 (table)
    2. 1599
      Euery Sechino is of venetian money eight liuers and two soldes.
      J. Lok in R. Hakluyt, Principal Navigations (new edition) vol. II. i. 102
    3. 1617
      The gold coyne of the Venetians is called Zecchino.
      F. Moryson, Itinerary i. 88
    4. 1622
      One of the Gentlemen of Venice,..was..wel gratified with a sufficient recompence of Zecchinos.
      True Relation Affaires Europe 7
    5. 1758
      A Zecchino, nine Livres thirteen Sols and a Half.
      translation of J. G. Keyssler, Travels (new edition) vol. II. 59
    6. 1815
      Each of them gave twenty sechini to King Theodore to buy shirts and clothes.
      Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.) 25 September
    7. 1860
      On cleaning a gurnet, she found in its inside a Venetian zecchino, which she disposed of for 15s 2d.
      Hampshire Advertiser 12 May 3/2
    8. 1956
      The gold zecchino of the Venetian Republic.
      Times 7 April 9/2
    9. 2004
      Aunt Greysteel had rented a house in Padua... It was very convenient for everywhere and only eighty sechinis a quarter.
      S. Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2005) lx. 867
    10. 2013
      A statue the size of the Apollino..cost 400 zecchini in 1794.
      Rijksmuseum Bulletin vol. 61 13/2

zecchino, n. was revised in June 2018.

zecchino, n. was last modified in September 2024.