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).
Phrases and idioms:
sterling area a group of countries with currencies tied to British sterling and holding reserves mainly in sterling. sterling silver silver of 921/2% purity.
Derivatives:
sterlingness n.
Etymology: 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