teston

[ tes-tuhn, -ton, te-stoon ]

noun

1. a former silver coin of France, equal at various times to between 10 and 14½ sols, bearing on the obverse a bust of the reigning king.
2. a former silver coin of England, issued by Henry VII, Henry VIII, and Edward VI, and bearing on the obverse the bust of the reigning king: equal originally to 12 pence, later to sixpence.
3. Also tes·to·ne [] a former silver coin of Milan, first issued in 1468, bearing on the obverse a bust of the Duke of Milan.

teston

/ tɛˈstuːn; ˈtɛstən /

noun

1. a French silver coin of the 16th century
2. Also calledtester an English silver coin of the 16th century, originally worth one shilling, bearing the head of Henry VIII

Word History and Origins

Origin of teston¹

1535–45; < French < Italian testone, augmentative of testa head < Late Latin; testa

Word History and Origins

Origin of teston¹

C16: from Italian testone, from testa head, from Late Latin: skull, from Latin: shell

Example Sentences

Une teston d'argent, o le duc Philibert est d'ung coustel et de l'aultre dame Yolent.

From Project Gutenberg

At St-Remy, M. Teston, who keeps the hotel named after him, is an excellent cook.

From Project Gutenberg

"My predecessors thought themselves dishonoured by knowing the value of a teston," Henry used to say.

From Project Gutenberg

That, with about a teston which it cost him in returning, is over and above the amount for printing.

From Project Gutenberg