Thaler
/ˈtɑːlər/noun
A large silver coin formerly used in several European countries, especially one that influenced the name of the U.S. dollar.
Did you know?The Thaler was named after the Joachimsthal silver-mining valley in Bohemia, and its enormous influence helped shape the word *dollar* across the Atlantic.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
German
Thaler
“A large silver coin from the Joachimsthal valley”
16th Century
German
Joachimsthal
“Joachim's valley, the place where the coin was minted”
Middle High German
MHG
thal
“valley”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*dalaz
“valley, dale”
Modern English
English
dollar
“The modern currency name ultimately derived from Thaler”