daric

Meaning

Noun

• A gold coin from Persian Empire, introduced by Darius the Great (522-486 BC) and used until Alexander the Great's invasion (330 BC).

Origin

• From Ancient Greek δαρεικός, from an Old Persian word related to 𐎭𐎼𐎴𐎹, from *dari- (compare Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌 ("yellowish, golden")), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- ("gleam, yellow"). Compare Aramaic ܕܪܝܟܘܢܐ, Classical Syriac ܕܪܝܼܟܘܿܢܐ, Ancient Hebrew אֲדַרְכּוֹן and Parthian 𐫅𐫀𐫡𐫏𐫃. gold, and yellow.
• Considered by classical authors to be from Δαρεῖος who standardized the coinage as such, but this is a folk etymology.