I. ˈkȯin noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English coyne, from Middle French coing, coin wedge, stamp, corner, from Latin cuneus wedge; perhaps akin to Latin culex gnat — more at culex
1.
a. archaic : corner , cornerstone , quoin
b. archaic : a wedge used for blocking, securing, or tightening
c. : a small corner cupboard especially of the 18th century
2. obsolete : the stamped device or impress on coined money
3. : a piece of metal or rarely of some other material (as leather or porcelain) certified by a mark or marks upon it as being of a specific intrinsic or exchange value ; specifically : such a piece issued by governmental authority to circulate as lawful money — see minor coin , standard coin , subsidiary coin , token , token coin
4. : something accepted as having value or validity
perhaps wisecracks … are respectable literary coin in the U.S. — Times Literary Supplement
: something given or offered in an exchange
too much softened … to answer his obstinacy in like coin — J.C.Powys
specifically : a unit (as an expression or idea) of intellectual or social exchange
they exchanged a few small coins of country talk — Mollie Panter-Downes
5. slang : money
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English coynen, from Middle French coignier, from coin, coing, n.
1.
a. : to make (a coin) by stamping the design onto the planchet
coin pennies
: convert (metal) into coins
coin silver
b. : to make (a coin) by any process or series of processes : mint , strike
coin dimes
: manufacture or issue (money) in the form of coins
c. : to shape (a piece of metal) in a mold or die by applying great pressure
2. : to make up or invent (something false or spurious)
coin smile and fair words
3. : create , invent
coin a phrase
4. : to make money out of
coin your brains
: convert into something valuable
coin his talent into verses
5. : to make or earn (money) rapidly and in large quantity
coined a small fortune … in the real estate boom — Irving Dilliard
III. adjective
1. : of or relating to coins
a coin show
2. : operated by coins
a coin laundry