/seen"yeuhr ij/ , n.
1. something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerogative.
2. a charge on bullion brought to the mint to be coined.
3. the difference between the cost of the bullion plus minting expenses and the value as money of the pieces coined, constituting a source of government revenue.
Also, seignorage .
[ 1400-50; late ME seigneurage seignorage, seigneurage; see SEIGNEUR, -AGE ]