dirhem

[ dir-hem, dih-rem, dir-uhm ]

noun

1. any of various fractional silver coins issued in Islamic countries at different periods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirhem¹

First recorded in 1780–90; variant of dirham

Example Sentences

The "mithḳál" is the weight of a deenár, or a dirhem and a half,—in Cairo, about 71-1/2 or 72 English grains.

From Project Gutenberg

And as I entered, I fell down prostrate, throwing the knife and dirhem from my hand, and fainted; and when I recovered, I acquainted her with that which had befallen me, and said to her, I shall not attain my desire.

From Project Gutenberg

So she said, As to the dirhem, she alluded by it to her right eye,31 and intimated that she swore by it, and said, By the Lord of all creatures, and by my right eye,32 if thou come again and sleep I will assuredly slaughter thee with this knife!—I fear for thee, therefore, O son of my uncle, from her malice; and my heart is full of grief on thine account, and I cannot talk.

From Project Gutenberg

But I replied, I conjure thee by Allah that thou495 explain to me the meaning of the knife and the iron dirhem.

From Project Gutenberg

"Dirhem," I have before mentioned, is the name of a silver coin: it is also the name of a weight, very nearly equivalent to forty-eight English grains; and being here described as of iron, we must understand it in the latter sense.

From Project Gutenberg