Coin

Coin (koin), n. [F. coin, formerly also coing, wedge, stamp, corner, fr. L. cuneus wedge; prob. akin to E. cone, hone. See Hone, n., and cf. Coigne, Quoin, Cuneiform.] 1. A quoin; a corner or external angle; a wedge. See Coigne, and Quoin.

2. A piece of metal on which certain characters are stamped by government authority, making it legally current as money; — much used in a collective sense.

It is alleged that it [a subsidy] exceeded all the current coin of the realm. Hallam.

3. That which serves for payment or recompense.

The loss of present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a nobler coin. Hammond.

Coin balance. See Illust. of Balance. — To pay one in his own coin, to return to one the same kind of injury or ill treatment as has been received from him. [Colloq.]

Coin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coined (koind); p. pr. & vb. n. Coining.] 1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal; to mint; to manufacture; as, to coin silver dollars; to coin a medal.

2. To make or fabricate; to invent; to originate; as, to coin a word.

Some tale, some new pretense, he daily coined, To soothe his sister and delude her mind. Dryden.

3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.

Tenants cannot coin rent just at quarter day. Locke.

Coin, v. i. To manufacture counterfeit money.

They cannot touch me for coining. Shak.