groschen

[ groh-shuhn ]

noun

, plural gro·schen.

1. a zinc or aluminum coin of Austria until the euro was adopted, one 100th of a schilling.
2. a German 10-pfennig piece made of nickel.
3. any of the silver coins of various German regions first introduced in the 13th century.

groschen

/ ˈɡrɔʃən; ˈɡrəʊʃən /

noun

1. a former Austrian monetary unit worth one hundredth of a schilling
2. a former German coin worth ten pfennigs
3. a former German silver coin

Word History and Origins

Origin of groschen¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from German; Middle High German grosse, grosze, from Latin (denārius) grossus “thick (coin)”; akin to groat

Word History and Origins

Origin of groschen¹

C17: from German: Bohemian dialect alteration of Middle High German grosse, from Medieval Latin ( denarius ) grossus thick (penny); see gross , groat

Example Sentences

So little promise did his early years give of his career as a reformer that, in 1392, he spent his last four groschen for an indulgence, when he had only dry crusts for food.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a groschen in his hand and a reading-book under his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

Graycloak brings me daily about nightfall a silver groschen, I know not from whom.

From Project Gutenberg

In the accompanying tables, therefore, the groschen is taken as most fairly averaging and widely current in the empire.

From Project Gutenberg

As they bore values in centimes, they were withdrawn as soon as "groschens" and "kreuzers" became generally current.

From Project Gutenberg