14 November 2017
ducat
[duhk-uh t]
noun
1. any of various gold coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe, especially that first issued in Venice in 1284.
Compare sequin (def 2).
2. any of various silver coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe.
3. Slang. a ticket to a public performance.
4. ducats, Slang. money; cash.
Origin of ducat
Middle English, Middle French, Old Italian, Medieval Latin
1350-1400; Middle English < Middle French < Old Italian ducato < Medieval Latin ducātus duchy; probably so called from the L words dux or ducātus, which formed part of the legends of such coins
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for ducat
Historical Examples
It was to no purpose that Sambuc appealed to ducat and Cabasse to confirm his statement.
The Downfall
Emile Zola
I set a ducat on the table, and going to the door I called my hostess.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini
And with a splendid gesture I pointed to the ducat gleaming on the table.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini
The pathic took my ducat, kissed my hand, and they all departed.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
This did not inspire me with confidence, so I only punted a ducat at a time.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
An ounce of Barbary is worth about 6d., and a ducat is worth about 5s.
An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa
Abd Salam Shabeeny
So they gave the old woman a dish full of gold, but she took only one ducat.
Russian Fairy Tales
W. R. S. Ralston
If his grandmother sent him a ducat Crisenius pocketed a florin.
History of the Moravian Church
J. E. Hutton
He had put in six hundred dollars when every dollar was a ducat.
The Spirit of Sweetwater
Hamlin Garland
At midnight I walked away with George Lamb, and went—where for a ducat ?
Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay
George Otto Trevelyan
Today’s quote
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
– Stephen King
On this day
14 November 1868 – birth of Steele Rudd, Australian author, (pen-name for Arthur Hoey Davis). Wrote ‘On Our Selection‘, which introduced Australia to ‘Dad and Dave’. Died 11 October 1935.
14 November 1942 – birth of Robert G. Barrett, Australian author of books such as ‘Davo’s Little Something’ and the Les Norton series which included, ‘High Noon in Nimbin’, ‘The Tesla Legacy’, ‘Crime Scene Cessnock’, ‘Rosa-Marie’s Baby’, ‘Guns n Rosé’. Barrett sold over 1,000,000 books in Australia. Died 20 September 2012.
14 November 2012 – Total solar eclipse visible from Cairns, North Queensland, Australia. Other areas saw a partial eclipse. The last total eclipse for Cairns was in 710AD, with the next one not expected for another 225 years.