I. ˈā-ˌkyü, ā-kue noun
( plural ecus -ˌkyüz, -ku̅e̅)
Etymology: Middle French, literally, shield, from Old French escu, from Latin scutum; from the device of a shield on the coin — more at esquire
Date: circa 1593
: any of various old French units of value ; also : a coin representing an ecu
II. ˌē-(ˌ)sē-ˈyü noun
Usage: often capitalized E&C&U
Etymology: E uropean C urrency U nit (influenced by French écu ecu)
Date: 1970
: a money of account based on the currency units of members of the European Union from 1979 up to the introduction of the euro in 1999