lire

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the basic unit of money on Malta; equal to 100 cents
  2. noun the basic unit of money in Turkey
  3. noun formerly the basic unit of money in Italy; equal to 100 centesimi

Etymology

From Middle English lire, lyre, from Old English līra (“any fleshy part of the body, muscle, calf of the leg”), from Proto-Germanic *ligwizô, *lihwizô (“thigh, groin”), from Proto-Indo-European *lekʷs-, *lewks- (“groin”). Cognate with Dutch lies (“groin”), Swedish lår (“thigh”).

Synonyms

lira, Maltese lira

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