Torno
/ˈtɔːr.noʊ/noun
A former Portuguese coin or monetary denomination.
Did you know?The monetary term is connected to the same ancient turning vocabulary that produced words associated with tours, tournaments, and tornadoes.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*terh₂-
“To rub, turn, or pass through a revolving motion; a reconstructed root associated with later turning words.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τόρνος (tórnos)
“A lathe, turning tool, or compass used to draw circles.”
Classical Latin
Latin
tornus
“A lathe or turning instrument, borrowed from Greek.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
tornensis
“Of Tours; a term used in coinage connected with the denier tournois.”
Medieval Portuguese
Portuguese
torno
“A monetary denomination or coin, related to the European tournois coin tradition.”
Early Modern English
English
torno
“A former Portuguese coin or monetary unit.”
Explore more surprising origins