jeton

token, chip, counter

noun zhuh-TOHN Rare

Origin: Old French jeter (to throw), referring to a cast counter

Usage Note

Jeton originally meant a counting token used in accounting, which is why old French phone booths once required one. Today it is used for gaming chips and metro tokens, and the colloquial phrase avoir les jetons means to be scared or have the jitters — an informal usage learners often encounter.

Examples

"Tu as besoin d'un jeton pour jouer."

Natural Translation

You need a token to play.

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