lira

Meaning

Noun

• The basic unit of currency in Turkey.
• The currency of Lebanon (also pound), Syria (also pound), Jordan (also dinar)
• The former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino, Cyprus and the Vatican City, superseded by the euro
• The former currency of Israel, superseded by the sheqel.
• A Ukrainian folk musical instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy.
• Any of a set of fine ridges on the shells of some molluscs

Origin

• From Italian lira, from Latin lībra (partly via Turkish lira, Arabic لِيرَة, Maltese lira, Greek λίρα, and Hebrew לִירָה, all of which are originally from the Italian). libra, and livre.
• From Ukrainian ліра, ultimately related to the Byzantine lyra (Ancient Greek λύρα). Lyra, and lyre.
• From Latin līra ("furrow").