$

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Translingual 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Symbol 1.3 Usage notes 1.4 See also 1.5 References

[edit] Translingual

[edit] Etymology

$ appears to have evolved ca 1775 in the United States from a common abbreviation for pesos, also known as piastres or pieces of eight, a P–raised S ligature P^S that passed through a stage resembling ֆ.^[1] It was used in the US before the adoption of the dollar in 1785.^[2]

[edit] Symbol

$

1. The symbol for peso used everywhere except in the Philippines
2. The symbol for dollar, taken from the peso
3. Figurative. A substitute for the letter S or a space or hyphen used as a symbol of (perceived) greedy business practices

   for example: "Micro$oft Window$"

[edit] Usage notes

The symbol precedes the number it qualifies, despite being pronounced second (in English). For example, “$1” is read as “one dollar” not “dollar one”.

[edit] See also

Currency signs

Formerly used currency signs

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ A history of mathematical notations, Florian Cajori, 1993
2. ^ US Bureau of Engraving and Printing