/ ˈstɜːlɪŋ; NAmE ˈstɜːrlɪŋ/ noun , adjective
■ noun
[ U ] the money system of Britain, based on the pound :
the value of sterling
You can be paid in pounds sterling or American dollars.
■ adjective
[ usually before noun ] ( formal ) of excellent quality :
He has done sterling work on the finance committee.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : probably from steorra star + -ling (because some early Norman pennies bore a small star). Until recently one popular theory was that the coin was originally made by Easterling moneyers (from the “eastern” Hanse towns), but the stressed first syllable would not have been dropped.