/flawr"in, flor"-/ , n.
1. a cupronickel coin of Great Britain, formerly equal to two shillings or the tenth part of a pound and retained in circulation equal to 10 new pence after decimalization in 1971: first issued in 1849 as a silver coin.
2. the guilder of the Netherlands.
3. a former gold coin of Florence, first issued in 1252 and widely imitated.
4. a former gold coin of England, first issued under Edward III.
5. a former gold coin of Austria, first issued in the middle of the 14th century.
[ 1275-1325; ME fiorino Florentine coin stamped with a lily, deriv. of fiore flower florem, acc. of flos FLOWER ]