banknote
UK: ˈbæŋk.nəʊt | US: ˈbæŋk.noʊt
n. A piece of paper money issued by a central bank, serving as legal tender.
banknote = bank<financial institution> + note<written promise>
- bank: Derived from Old Italian banca (bench), referring to moneylenders' benches in medieval markets.
- note: From Latin nota (mark, sign), evolving to mean a written promise of payment.
Etymology Origin:
The term banknote emerged in the 17th century when banks began issuing paper promises to pay the bearer a specified sum. The word combines bank (the issuer) and note (the promise), reflecting its function as a formal IOU from a financial institution. Over time, these notes became standardized as currency.
The cashier handed me a crisp new banknote.
Counterfeit banknotes are a serious crime.
She collects rare historical banknotes from different countries.
The design of the banknote features a famous scientist.
The central bank announced a new series of banknotes.