écu

¹

[ ey-kyoo; French ey-ky ]

noun

, plural é·cus [ey-, kyooz, ey-, ky].

1. the shield carried by a mounted man-at-arms in the Middle Ages.
2. any of various gold and silver coins of France, issued from the 13th through the 18th centuries, bearing the figure of a shield.

ECU

²

[ ey-kooor, sometimes, ee-see-yoo ]

noun

1. a former money of account of the European Common Market that was used in international finance until the euro was adopted and was based on the combined prorated values of the currencies of member nations.

E.C.U.

³

abbreviation for

1. English Church Union.

ECU

¹

/ ˈiːˈsiːˈjuː; ˈeɪkjuː /

acronym for

1. European Currency Unit: a former unit of currency based on the composite value of several different currencies in the European Union and functioning as both the reserve asset and the accounting unit of the European Monetary System; replaced by the euro in 1999

écu

²

/ eɪˈkjuː; eky /

noun

1. any of various former French gold or silver coins
2. a small shield

Word History and Origins

Origin of écu¹

1695–1705; < French; Old French escu < Latin scūtum shield

Origin of écu²

E(uropean) C(urrency) U(nit), perhaps with play on écu ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of écu¹

C18: from Old French escu, from Latin scūtum shield

Example Sentences

ECU criminology researchers Dr Suz Rock and Associate Professor Natalie Gately have published the first Australian study to evaluate the impact of introducing a justice facility dog to a Children's Court.

From Science Daily

Guide Dogs WA CEO Anna Presser said ECU's positive research provides confirmation of the profound difference specialist dogs make.

From Science Daily

ECU: The Pirates refused to say who would start at quarterback and they may not know who will take the first snap next week because both struggled.

From Seattle Times

Eastern Carolina ECU Center for Survey Research released a survey Tuesday showing the incumbent Democrat trailing Republican Gov. Jim Justice by double digits in a hypothetical Senate race.

From Washington Times

“Although it is still early, Jim Justice is the clear favorite to win in West Virginia’s 2024 U.S. Senate election,” said Peter Francia, director of the ECU Center for Survey Research.

From Washington Times