noun
guinea
GIN-ee/ˈɡɪni/
A former British gold coin or monetary unit worth twenty-one shillings.
The collector holds an old gold guinea beside a stack of matching coins.
Etymology
The coin took its name from Guinea because it was first minted for British trade with that region and made with African gold. The name remained when the coins entered domestic use.
In context
the English started making a gold coin that came to be known as the guinea,
the guineas were struck using gold from Guinea: hence the name guinea.
More examples
- He found an old gold guinea in the collection.
- A guinea was worth twenty-one shillings.
- The historical account recorded a fee of five guineas.
Forms
guinea · guineas
Similar words
- sovereign
- A different British gold coin traditionally worth one pound.