medal
UK: ˈmɛd(ə)l | US: ˈmɛd(ə)l
n. a flat piece of metal, typically disk-shaped, awarded as a prize or commemoration
n. an insignia or decoration worn to signify honor or achievement
The word "medal" traces back to the Latin medalia, meaning "a coin worth half a denarius," derived from metallum (metal). Over time, it evolved in Italian (medaglia) and Middle French (medaille) to denote commemorative coins or tokens, eventually entering English in the 16th century with its modern meaning of an award. The morpheme med- preserves the original Latin root for metal, while -al functions as a noun-forming suffix.
She won a gold medal in the Olympic marathon.
The veteran proudly displayed his military medals.
The museum exhibited ancient Roman medals.
A commemorative medal was struck for the centenary.
His collection included rare medals from the 18th century.