sb. and a. Forms: α. 3–6 sterlinge, -ynge, 4 sterlyngge, 4–6 starlinge, -yng(e, 4, 6–8 starling, 5–6 sterlyng, 7 sterlin, 8 sterline, 3– sterling. β. Sc. 5 strivilin, 6 stirveling, stirviling, striveling, striviling, strivling, 6–7 stirling, 7 stirlin, stirvlin. [Early ME. sterling, whence OF. esterlin, med.L. esterlingus, sterlingus, sterlinus, MHG. sterlinc, It. sterlino. Of uncertain origin, but probably a late OE. formation in -LING1.
The earliest known example (in the Fr. form esterlin) is believed to occur in a charter of the Norman abbey of Préaux (Round Cal. Documents, France, p. 111). The date is supposed to be either 1085 or 1104, on the evidence of the golden number, but so far as this is concerned it might be later by 19 years or a multiple of 19; the cartulary is of the 13th c. Ordericus Vitalis (a 1145) has in Latin libræ sterilensium, and libræ sterilensis monetæ, as if he took the word for an -ing derivative of a place-name. The Anglo-Latin sterlingus is cited by Ducange from the year 1180. Continental examples are frequent in the 13th c., the excellence of the English penny having procured for it extensive currency in foreign countries; in Oct. 1202, Baldwin Count of Flanders contracts to pay to certain Venetian nobles ‘the sum of 121 ounces in marks sterling (marcas sterlinorum) at the rate of 13 “solidi” and 4 “denarii” for each silver mark’ (Rawdon Brown, Cal. State Papers, Venice, I. 1).
The word, if of English origin, presumably was descriptive of some peculiar characteristic of the new Norman penny. The most plausible explanation is that it represents a late OE. *steorling, ‘coin with a star’ (f. steorra star), some of the early Norman pennies having on them a small star. An old conjecture is that the word is derived from stær a starling (STARE sb.1), and alludes to the four birds (usually called ‘martlets’) on some coins of Edward the Confessor; but if this were so the early form would normally have been starling. Until recently, the prevailing view was that the word was a shortening of EASTERLING. Walter de Pinchebek (c. 1300) gives this explanation, saying that the coin was originally made by Easterling moneyers; but the stressed first syllable would not have been dropped.
In Scotland the word was confused with the name of the town of Stirling, anciently Strivelin; hence the β forms common in the 15th and 16th centuries.]
A. sb.
1. The English silver penny of the Norman and subsequent dynasties. Often in pound of sterlings, originally a pound weight of silver pennies, afterwards a name for the English pound (240 pence) as a money of account. Also in mark, shilling, etc., of sterlings. Obs. exc. Hist.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5949. He ȝef hem atten ende Four þousend pound of sterlynges. Ibid., 11840. Þe king … eche ȝer him sende A certein summe of sterlings to is liues ende.
c. 1300. Fleta, II. xii. (1647), 72. Per denar’ Angliæ qui sterling’ appellatur, et fit rotundus, qui debet ponderare triginta duo grana frumenti mediocria.
a. 1330. Syr Degarre, 297. The ten pound of starlings Were i-spended in his fostrings.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 342. As in lussheborwes is a lyther alay and ȝet loketh he lyke a sterlynge.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 579. Myn hooly pardon may yow alle warice So þat ye offre nobles, or sterlynges, Or elles siluer broches [etc.].
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 167. Þe kyng … ȝaf hym an hondred schillynges of sterlynges.
1418. E. E. Wills (1882), 32. I bequethe to Ionet my wyfe … xl. li of Sterlinges.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 256/2. Silver … beyng as gode of alay as the sterlyng.
a. 1500. Brome Bk. (1886), 149. xx s. of starlynges.
1598. Stow, Surv., vii. (1603), 52. Paid in starlings which were pence so called.
1861. Numism. Chron., I. 56. English and Foreign Sterlings found in Scotland.
1868. Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), I. xxiii. 179. Your words smell of English sterlings.
b. Sc. Applied to the Scottish penny.
This use is sometimes erroneously said to go back to the 12th c., on the ground of its occurrence in the so-called ‘Assize of David I.,’ which is a compilation of later date.
1387. Charters, etc. Edin. (1871), 36. vic mark of sterlyngis of the payment of Scotlande.
a. 1600[?]. trans. Assisa de Mensuris, in Sc. Acts (1844), I. 674. King David ordanyt at þe sterlyng [orig. (? 15th c.) sterlingus] suld wey xxxij cornys of gude and round quhete.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. II., 56 b. The stirlin in the time of … king David, did wey threttie twa graines of gude and round quheat: Bot now it is otherwaies, be reason of the minoration of the money.
1884. Encycl. Brit., XVII. 656/2. The oldest pieces are silver pennies or sterlings, resembling the contemporary English money, of the beginning of the 12th century.
† c. With ellipsis of of, in pound, mark, etc., sterlings. Obs.
Chiefly with the plurals pounds, marks, etc., and hence in later use prob. apprehended as an adj. with plural inflexion.
1433. E. E. Wills (1882), 95. Y bequethe to litill Watkyn, my Godsone … x markes sterlynges.
1464. Rolls of Parlt., V. 530/1. An annuall rent of xl li. Sterlinges.
c. 1483. Caxton, Dialogues, 51/22. A pound sterlings.
1486. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 11. vj marc sterlynges.
1528. Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 20. As moche wood as ys woorth iiij powndes sterlynges.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 248 b. The thousande pieces wer muche about the summe of twentie nobles sterlynges.
† 2. = PENNYWEIGHT. Obs.
1474. Stat. Winch., in Cov. Leet Bk., 396. xxxij graynes of whete take out of the mydens of the Ere makith a sterling oþer-wyse called a peny; & xx sterling maketh an Ounce.
1496–7. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 5. Every unce [shall] conteyn xx sterlinges, and every sterling be of the weight of xxxij cornes of whete that growe in the myddes of the Eare of the whete.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Carat, For eight of them [carrats] make but one sterlin, and a sterlin is the 24 part of an ounce.
1776. Entick, London, I. 160. A penny, weighing two sterlings.
† b. attrib. Sterling weight. Obs.
In the Table ‘sterling weight’ is stated in pounds, shillings, and pence; the lb. avoirdupois = 1lb. 2oz. 10dwt. troy, £1. 1s. 2d. sterling.
1612. W. Colson, Gen. Tresury, H h ij. A Table to finde Auerdupois weight reduced to Troy weight, and sterling weight.
3. Money of the quality of the sterling or standard silver penny; genuine English money. † In the 17th c. occas. used rhetorically for: Money.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Centussis … A rate of Romaine money conteynyng … 10. Denarios, that is .x. grotes of olde sterlynge, when .viii. grotes went to an ownce.
1583. Greene, Mamillia, II. (1593), L 2. It is … so hard to descrie the true sterling from the counterfeit coyne.
1602. Dekker, Satirom., D 2. Drop the ten shillings into this Bason…. So, ist right lacke? ist sterling?
1605. A. Warren, Poor Man’s Pass., E 3. Whose coffers with Commodities abound So full, that they no sterling more may hold.
a. 1635. Randolph, Poems (1640), 213. Hexameter’s no sterling, and I feare What the brain coines goes scarce for currant there.
1699. Garth, Dispens., 19. By useful Observations he can tell The Sacred Charms that in true Sterling dwell, How Gold makes a Patrician of a Slave [etc.].
1707. Norris, Humility, vii. 320–1. To see a Rich Man that has nothing else to recommend him … but pure naked Sterling, to grow Proud and Haughty upon a full Purse … nothing certainly can be more ridiculous to see.
fig. 1584. Greene, Mirror Modestie, Wks. (Grosart), III. 25. And seeing we haue you here alone, your stearne lookes shall stande for no sterling. Ibid. (1584), Tritameron, I. B iv. Your censure is no sentence, neither can this broken coine stande for sterlyng.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 107. You haue tane his tenders for true pay, Which are not starling.
4. English money as distinguished from foreign money. Formerly often in contrast to currency, i.e., the depreciated pounds, shillings and pence of certain colonies.
1601. in Stafford’s Pac. Hib., II. iv. (1633), 157. Monies of this new Standard of Ireland … being brought back againe to the Exchange to be converted in sterling.
1734. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., i. (1730), 17. The Tenants are obliged by their Leases to pay Sterling, which is Lawful Current Money of England.
1834. J. D. Lang, Hist. Acc. N. S. Wales (1837), I. 206. The debts of the small settlers had all been contracted in sterling; and the price they received for their wheat … was in currency.
1890. Daily News, 2 July, 3/6. The lay treasurer of the society, who said that for a long time he had been opposed to the payments in India being made in sterling. Ibid. (1892), 19 Dec., 3/3. The effort has been made here to draw bills on America with the notion of selling at once for sterling, and using depreciated currency to pay the bills when due.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 8 Nov., 5/2. Sterling rose as promptly as it fell during last week’s chaotic Money market. (New York.)
b. fig. in Australian use. (See quots.)
1827. P. Cunningham, Two Yrs. N. S. Wales, II. 53. Our colonial-born brethren are best known here by the name of Currency, in contradistinction to Sterling or those born in the mother-country.
1834. J. D. Lang, Hist. Acc. N. S. Wales (1837), I. 220. Contests … between the colonial youth and natives of England, or, to use the phrase of the colony, between currency and sterling.
1837, 1892. [see CURRENCY 4 b. fig.]
c. attrib. with the sense: Related to or payable in sterling.
1894. H. Bell, Rlwy. Policy India, 81. A new contract (in 1887), granting a sterling guarantee of 31/2 per cent on the capital expended. Ibid., 244. The sterling interest charges now payable on Indian railways … are equivalent to a payment of interest of over 7.6 per cent … if converted into rupees at par.
1898. W. J. Greenwood, Commerc. Corresp. (ed. 2), 103. This sterling invoice was sent to Hamburg.
1903. Pitman’s Business Man’s Guide, 409. Sterling Bonds, the bonds of certain American railroad companies which have been issued in the United Kingdom and are payable in English currency, and not in that of the United States.
1912. Times, 19 Dec., 16/3. Sterling exchange was irregular.
† 5. Standard degree of fineness. Obs.
The sense was prob. evolved from traditional expressions like ‘as good as the sterling’ (see quot. 1423 in sense 1).
1696–7. Act 8 & 9 Will. III., c. 8 § 8. Plate of finer Siluer then the Sterling or Standard ordained for the Moneys of this Realme.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., ii. (1730), 55. Gold and Silver of the Right Sterling and Standard.
B. adj. (Formerly often abbreviated ster., sterl.)
1. In pound etc. sterling, altered from the older pound etc. (of) sterlings (see A 1, 1 b), and originally used in the same sense. Hence, in later use, appended to the statement of a sum of money, to indicate that English money is meant.
a. 1444. Rolls of Parlt., V, 115/1. That the Seneschall … and other Officers … forfete M. marks sterlyng.
1523. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 12 § 1. They shall stryke … as many halfe grotes … as shall amount to the somme of .xx. li. sterlyng.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 22. iiij pense halpeny starling.
1665. Lamont, Diary (Maitl. Club), 176. He was dew … of excyse,… ane thowsande lib. sterl.
1673. Temple, Observ. United Prov., ii. 86. Above Sixteen hundred thousand pounds Sterling a year.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875), XII. 60/1. Þat they retaine 25 lib. starling of the excyse.
1713. J. Watson, Hist. Printing, Publ. Pref. 16. For which he was to have a Salary of 100 lib. Sterl. per Annum.
1717. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 31. Between seven and eight hundred pound sterline yearly.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., ii. (1730), 62. England gets a Million Sterl. by this Nation.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxi. 249. A Xerapheen is worth about sixteen Pence half Peny Ster.
1806. Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2), p. xxv. The shilling Scots is the 12th part of a shilling Sterling, or one penny Sterling; the pound Scots … is equal to one shilling and eightpence Sterling.
1838. De Morgan, Ess. Probab., 18. Concerns which now employ many millions sterling.
1849. Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 167. The value of the whole … amounting to 350,000 dollars, or 73,500l. sterling.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Relig., Wks. (Bohn), II. 100. The religion of England … believes in a Providence which does not treat with levity a pound sterling.
β. a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 236. Ane hundreith thowsand pound stiruiling.
1589. Exch. Rolls Scot., XXII. 17. Fra the scheref of Selkirk, 6d. strivling … fra the scheref of Drumfreis, 3s. money, 1d. striviling.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 333. He was redeimet with a ransoune of ane hunder libs stirling. Ibid., II. 355/20. [He] suld pay xx shilling Stirueling for his offence.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xii. § 119. His [David II.’s] ransome was one hundreth thousand markes striueling.
1613–8. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng., Wks. (Grosart), V. 261. The ransome of a hundreth thousand Markes stirulin.
2. Prefixed as the distinctive epithet of lawful English money or coin. Now rare. † Also, in early Sc. use, of lawful Scots money.
α. c. 1400. Brut, clxiii. 182. The Kyng [Edw. I.] ordeynede þat þe sterlinge halfpeny and ferthinge shulde go þrouȝ-out his lande.
1482. Cely Papers (Camden), 100. The sowdeers hath leiver to be payd here at xxvj s viij d. than hawe in Yngland sterlyng money.
c. 1483. Caxton, Dialogues, 17/35. Ryallis nobles of englond,… Olde sterlingis pens.
1561. Norton, trans. Calvin’s Inst., IV. xviii. 146, marg. The common price of a Masse in fraunce is .iii. Karolus … about the value of a sterling grote.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Census equestris, 400 Sestertia, of olde sterlyng money 2000 poundes.
1590. Webbe, Trav. (Arb.), 27. A pennie loafe of Brende (of English starling money) was worth a crowne of gold.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 131. Pay her the debt you owe her, and vnpay the villany you haue done her: the one you may do with sterling money, & the other with currant repentance.
1651. Marius, Adv. conc. Bills Exch., 69. How to bring French Crownes into Starling Money.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., xii. (1906), 122. Libra or Pondo … was worth of sterlin money three pounds.
1755. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 36. Eighteen pounds eighteen shillings sterl money.
1816. Scott, Antiq., i. Three shillings of sterling money of this realm.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. iii. And, say, in sterling money, three hundred thousand a year.
β. 1488. in Acta Dom. Concil. (1839), 98/2. Twa vnces of striuilin pennyis.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 382. Fiftie thousand of stirling mony gude To pay in hand.
1588. Exch. Rolls Scot., XXI. 391. The comptar discharrgis him of striviling money … extending to 32d.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Dav. II., 44. It is statute that the kings money, that is stirlin money, sall not be caried furth of the Realme.
b. Phrase, To pass for (later as) sterling. Chiefly fig. Also, to allow, mark for sterling.
1641. Milton, Animadv., 21. Setting aside the odde coinage of your phrase, which no mintmaister of language would allow for sterling.
1651. Culpepper, Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658), 154. If the credit of Hippocrates may passe for starling, he protests that [etc.].
1727. De Foe, Eng. Tradesman (1732), I. xviii. 248. What are they but washing over a brass shilling to make it pass for sterling?
1780. Burke, Sp. Bristol, Wks. 1842, I. 257. If our member’s conduct can bear this touch, mark it for sterling.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, III. i. 30. Such are the inconsistencies of a speech, which yet appears to have passed as sterling in the assembly to which it was addressed.
† c. fig. That has course or currency. Obs.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 96. This waie of exercise was … reiected iustlie by Crassus and Cicero: yet allowed and made sterling agayne by M. Quintilian.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., IV. 264. If my word be Sterling yet in England, Let it command a Mirror hither straight.
3. Of silver: † Having the same degree of purity as the penny. (obs.) Hence, in later use: Of standard quality. Sterling mark, stamp: the hallmark guaranteeing sterling quality.
With the first quot. cf. quot. 1423 in A 1.
1488–9. Act 4 Hen. VII., c. 2. All suche fyne silver … shall be … made soo fyne that it may bere xij. peny weyght of alaye in a pound wight, And yet it be as good as sterlynge and rather better than worse.
1551. Sir J. Williams, Accompte (Abbotsf. Club, 1836), 26. In grotes stricken wt harpes, the some of MlMl li, converted and made … of MlDCXXV li sterlinge siluer.
1676. W. B., Touchst. Gold & Silver (1677), 35. If it [plate] be worse then Starling it will appear Yellowish.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1632/4. Five Silver-Hilted Swords, the Hilts of which are found upon the Tryal, more then one Shilling in every Ounce worse than the Sterling.
1684. Roscommon, Ess. Transl. Verse, 310. Before the Radiant Sun, a Glimmering Lamp; Adult’rate Mettals to the Sterling Stamp, Appear not meaner, than mere humane Lines, Compar’d with those whose Inspiration shines.
1723. Lond. Gaz., No. 6134/4. Silver … Shooe-Clasps, mark’d Old Sterling.
1743. Tindal, trans. Rapin’s Hist., II. XVII. 157. A pound of old Sterling Silver [was coined] into Half-Shillings, [etc.].
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. x. 129. The sterling mark upon plate, and the stamps on … cloth, give the purchaser much greater security.
b. In figurative context. (Passing into sense 4.)
1689. J. Collier, Misc., ii. (1694), 73. There is another Profession, which possibly does not glitter altogether so much upon the Sense, but for all that, if you touch it, ’twill prove right Sterling.
1767. Harte, T. à Kempis, Medit., 72. True faith, like gold into the furnace cast, Maintains its sterling pureness to the last.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 358. Were kingship as true treasure as it seems, Sterling, and worthy of a wise man’s wish, I would not [etc.]. Ibid., vi. 990. What is base No polish can make sterling.
4. Of character, principles, qualities, occas. of persons: Thoroughly excellent, capable of standing every test.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. 122. Twas your judgment, which all the world holds to be sound and sterling, induced me heerunto.
1755. Young, Centaur, v. Wks. 1757, IV. 219. This love, supposing it sterling, I (stultus ego!) returned in kind.
1781. Cowper, Table-T., 638. Then decent pleasantry and sterling sense … Whipp’d out of sight, with satire just and keen, The puppy pack that had defil’d the scene.
1789. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Subj. Painters, Wks. 1816, II. 20. The Dev’l’s a fellow of much sterling humour.
1815. W. H. Ireland, Scribbleomania, 70. I … advise this nobleman to apply his abilities to some more sterling and lasting theme.
1824. Miss L. M. Hawkins, Annaline, I. 248. I know the sterling qualities you have.
1828. W. Sewell, Dom. Virtues Greeks & Romans, 33. They derived from their Celtic origin … many sound and sterling principles of conduct.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, I. 83. The nephew … is a young man of sterling worth, and Spanish gravity.
1876. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iv. (1877), 74. Gospel prophecy would not only develope what was sincere and sterling in man, but what was counterfeit in him too.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 147. Her husband also was one of the most sterling good-hearted men I ever knew.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, lxii. Then the world seemed none so bad, And I myself a sterling lad.
Comb. 1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 196. A knot of sterling-hearted associates.
