adj. & n.
adj. 1 of or in British money (pound sterling). 2 (of a coin or precious metal) genuine; of standard value or purity. 3 (of a person or qualities etc.) of solid worth; genuine, reliable (sterling work).
n. British money (paid in sterling). sterling area a group of countries with currencies tied to British sterling and holding reserves mainly in sterling. sterling silver silver of 92«% purity. sterlingness n.
[ prob. f. late OE steorling (unrecorded) f. steorra star + -LING(1) (because some early Norman pennies bore a small star): recorded earlier in OF esterlin ]