maravedi

From Spanish maravedí, from Arabic مُرَابِطِين‎ (murābiṭīn), an inflected plural of مُرَابِط‎ (murābiṭ, “holy man”), the name of the Almoravid rulers of Muslim Spain during the 12th century. Compare marabout.

• IPA^(key): /mæɹəˈveɪdi/

maravedi (plural maravedis)

1. (historical) A former Spanish coin and unit of currency, originally issued in gold but later in silver and copper, discontinued in 1848.
   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:

     an thou dost go on to put thy filthy lucre in the balance with thy daughter’s life and honour, by Heaven, I will strip thee of every maravedi thou hast in the world, before three days are out!

2. (figuratively) A very small quantity or value; the least possible amount.

   Synonyms: jot, shred, whit, farthing

   • 1836, Joanna Baillie, The Alienated Manor, Act 1, p.160

     I think I know myself; I am not prone to suspicion; but for those strange words, I should not have cared a maravedi for her painting that cursed flower.