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Pecuniary

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From pecus, cattle, especially sheep. Varo says that sheep were the ancient medium of barter and standard of value. Ancient coin was marked with the image of an ox or sheep. We have the Gold Sheep (mouton dʹor) and Gold Lamb (agneau dʹor) of ancient France, so called from the figure struck on them, and worth about a shilling. (Latin, pecuniarius, pecunia.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Peascod
Pec
Peccavi
Peck (A)
Pecker
Peckham
Pecksniff
Peculiar
Peculiars (The Court of)
Peculium
Pecuniary
Pedagogue
Pedlar
Pedlar’s Acre (Lambeth)
Pedlars French
Peebles
Peel
Peeler (A)
Peep
Peep-o-Day Boys
Peeping Tom of Coventry