maravedi

See also: maravedí

English

Etymology

From Spanish maravedí, from Arabic مُرَابِطِين (murābiṭīn), an inflected plural of مُرَابِط (murābiṭ, “holy man”), the name of the Almoravid rulers of Muslim Spain during the 12th century. Compare marabout.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mæɹəˈveɪdi/

Noun

maravedi (plural maravedis)

1. (historical) A former Spanish coin and unit of currency, originally issued in gold but later in silver and copper, discontinued in 1848.
   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:

     an thou dost go on to put thy filthy lucre in the balance with thy daughter’s life and honour, by Heaven, I will strip thee of every maravedi thou hast in the world, before three days are out!

2. (figurative) A very small quantity or value; the least possible amount.

   Synonyms: jot, shred, whit, farthing

   • 1836, Joanna Baillie, The Alienated Manor, act 1, page 160:

     I think I know myself; I am not prone to suspicion; but for those strange words, I should not have cared a maravedi for her painting that cursed flower.