piaster, piastre (tre as ter)

[French piastre, from Ital. piastra =a plate or leaf of metal; Sp. piastra. The word is a variant of plaster (q.v.).] Numis. A coin of various values. The gold piaster of Turkey=4.4c.; the silver piaster=4.35c.; the Egyptian piaster = 4.9c.; the Spanish piaster is synonymous with our dollar. The old Italian piaster was equivalent to about 89c. *pi-ā-tion, s. [Lat. piatio , from piatus , pa. par. of pio to expiate (q.v.).] The act of making atonement; expiation.