billon

[ bil-uh n ]
/ ˈbɪl ən /

noun

an alloy used in coinage, consisting of gold or silver with a larger amount of base metal.
an alloy of silver with copper or the like, used for coins of small denomination.
any coin struck from such an alloy.

Origin of billon

1720–30; < French: debased metal, orig. ingot, equivalent to Middle French bille log (see billet2) + -on noun suffix

Example sentences from the Web for billon

British Dictionary definitions for billon

billon
/ (ˈbɪlən) /

noun

an alloy consisting of gold or silver and a base metal, usually copper, used esp for coinage
any coin made of such an alloy

Word Origin for billon

C18: from Old French: ingot, from bille log; see billet ²