piece of eight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, Literary, Specialized
Quick answer
What does “piece of eight” mean?
A Spanish silver coin, worth eight reales, widely used in the Americas and Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Spanish silver coin, worth eight reales, widely used in the Americas and Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.
A historical term for currency, often associated with piracy, treasure, and colonial trade; sometimes used metaphorically for old or valuable money.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally historical in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes piracy, naval history, treasure hunts, and the colonial era equally in both BrE and AmE.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, limited to historical discussion or genre fiction (e.g., pirate tales).
Grammar
How to Use “piece of eight” in a Sentence
a piece of eightpieces of eighta hoard of pieces of eightVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business. Historical reference in economic history.
Academic
Used in history, archaeology, and numismatics (coin collecting) papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might appear in conversation about pirate movies or history.
Technical
Specific term in numismatics for a type of Spanish colonial coinage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “piece of eight”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “piece of eight”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “piece of eight”
- Using it to refer to modern coins or money.
- Saying 'a piece of eight coins' (redundant).
- Misspelling as 'peace of eight'.
- Using it as a countable noun without 'a' or 'pieces of'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical coin and has not been minted for circulation since the 19th century.
It was worth eight Spanish reales, hence 'piece of eight (reales)'.
Yes, Spanish coins were common plunder and widely circulated in the Americas, making them a common target for pirates.
Only in a very figurative or humorous sense (e.g., 'I need to earn a few pieces of eight'). In normal conversation, it would sound archaic or odd.
A Spanish silver coin, worth eight reales, widely used in the Americas and Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.
Piece of eight is usually historical, literary, specialized in register.
Piece of eight: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpiːs əv ˈeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpiːs əv ˈeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pieces of eight! (traditional pirate exclamation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a pirate parrot squawking 'Pieces of eight!' over a chest of old silver coins.
Conceptual Metaphor
OLD VALUABLE IS A PIECE OF EIGHT (e.g., 'That vintage watch is a real piece of eight').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'piece of eight' primarily?