(ˈ)ā|kyü, āku̅e̅ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French ecu, escu ecu, shield, from Old French escu shield, from Latin scutum — more at esquire
1. : an old French coin having a shield as part of the design:
a. : a gold coin worth three livres issued from the 14th century until the introduction of the louis d'or in 1640
b. : a silver crown-sized coin first issued in 1642 as equivalent to three livres but later varied arbitrarily especially under Louis XIV between five, six, and eight livres
2. : a silver piece worth five francs after introduction of the franc in 1795 ; also : the 20-franc silver piece issued 1929-38
3. : a unit of value equivalent to one ecu coin
the captain's pay was one thousand ecus
a 1/2- ecu coin