shekel

[ shek-uh l ]
/ ˈʃɛk əl /

noun

Also sheqel. a paper money, cupronickel or silver coin, and monetary unit of Israel equal to 100 agorot: replaced the pound in 1980.
an ancient, originally Babylonian, unit of weight, of varying value, taken as equal to the fiftieth or the sixtieth part of a mina or to about a quarter to half an ounce.
a coin of this weight, especially the chief silver coin of the ancient Hebrews.
shekels, Slang. money; cash.

Origin of shekel

First recorded in 1550–60, shekel is from the Hebrew word sheqel

Words nearby shekel

sheikh, sheikhdom, sheila, sheitan, sheitel, shekel, shekhinah, shekinah, shelburne, shelby, shelbyville

Example sentences from the Web for shekel

British Dictionary definitions for shekel

shekel

sheqel

/ (ˈʃɛkəl) /

noun

the standard monetary unit of modern Israel, divided into 100 agorot
any of several former coins and units of weight of the Near East
(often plural) informal any coin or money

Word Origin for shekel

C16: from Hebrew sheqel