sterling English · revision 7507

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=1297}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈstɜːlɪŋ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈstɜɹlɪŋ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sterling, probably from an unrecorded Old English *steorling, from steorra, [[star]], and [[-ling]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) because some early Norman pennies bore a small star.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) The word was known earlier on the Continent as Old French esterlin (perhaps before 1104) and in Anglo-Latin as sterlingus (1180).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline notes that starred coins were not especially common, and that Kluge derived the word from Old French estedre, [[stater]].^(Etymonline) The old derivation from Easterling is now rejected.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The English silver penny: 1297 in the OED, 1299 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense widened by the late 14th century to the standard lawful unit of currency.^(Etymonline) Money of the quality of the sterling penny, genuine English money, is from 1565,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and English money as distinct from foreign money from 1601.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Word Origins notes that the coins came to be used as weights,^(Cresswell 2021) and a sterling was a pennyweight from 1474.^(OED 1989) The adjective, of English money, is from 1425,^(Barnhart 1988) and of standard or excellent quality from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) The spelling has been confused with that of the Scottish town of Stirling.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – the English penny.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – lawful currency.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1425 – the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1565 – genuine English money.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1601 – English money as distinct from foreign.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 17th century – of excellent quality.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # British [[money]], especially the [[pound]] as a unit of currency.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The official standard of fineness of British silver and gold coins.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[sterling silver|alt=Sterling silver]], or things made of it.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to British money.^(AHD)

+ # Made of sterling silver.^(AHD)

+ # Of the highest quality; excellent: ''sterling work''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sterlingly]]

+ * [[sterlingness]]

+ * [[pound sterling]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[star]]

+ * [[-ling]]

+ * [[stater]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}