sterling

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Engineering Same as Starling, 3.

Origin: OE. sterlynge, starling, for easterling, LL. esterlingus, probably from Easterling, once the popular name of German trades in England, whose money was of the purest quality: cf. MHG. sterlink a certain coin. Cf. East. “Certain merchants of Norwaie, Denmarke, and of others those parties, called Ostomanni, or (as in our vulgar language we tearme them), easterlings, because they lie east in respect of us.” Raphael Holinshed “In the time of... King Richard the First, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie began to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called Easterling monie, as all inhabitants of those parts were called Easterlings, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and allaies, were sent for into this realme to bring the coine to perfection; which since that time was called of them sterling, for Easterling.” William Camden “Four thousand pound of sterlings.” Robert of Gloucester

1. Any English coin of standard value; coined money.

So that ye offer nobles or sterlings.— Geoffrey Chaucer

And Roman wealth in English sterling view.— John Arbuthnot

2. A certain standard of quality or value for money.

Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign.— Stephen M. Leake

1. Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; — now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used. “With sterling money.” William Shakespeare

2. Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54