Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: sterling 'silver penny' (13-19 centuries), probably from an unrecorded Old English steorling 'coin with a star on it', from steorra; STAR1

sterling

1 noun
     
Related topics: Currencies
ster‧ling1 [uncountable]
1PEC also Sterling the standard unit of money in the United Kingdom, based on the pound
2 also sterling silver silver that is at least 92% pure
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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