denier

denier (old coin); penny

noun duh-NYEH Rare

Origin: From Latin 'denarius', a Roman silver coin.

Usage Note

Denier survives mainly in fixed expressions: n'avoir pas un denier means to be completely penniless. It also names a unit of thread fineness used in hosiery and textiles (as in '20 denier stockings'), which is a separate technical borrowing from the same source.

Examples

"Il ne lui reste pas un denier."

Natural Translation

He has not a penny left.

Literal Translation

There is not a denier left to him.

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