Medal

//ˈmɛdəl// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from Spanish [in turn from Galician].
Noun
  1. 1
    A stamped metal disc used as a personal ornament, a charm, or a religious object.

    "Whether their images, shrines, relics, consecrated things, holy water, medals, benedictions, those divine amulets, holy exorcisms, and the sign of the cross, be available in this disease?"

  2. 2
    an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event wordnet
  3. 3
    A stamped or cast metal object (usually a disc), particularly one awarded as a prize or reward.
Verb
  1. 1
    To win a medal. colloquial, intransitive

    "He medalled twice at the Olympics."

  2. 2
    To award a medal to. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English [Term?], from Middle French medaille, medale, from Italian medaglia (originally "half a denarius"), from Early Medieval Latin medālia, feminine derived via dissimilation (/dj–lj/ > /d–lj/) from mediālia, neuter plural of Late Latin mediālis (“middle”, adjective), from Classical Latin medius.

Etymology 2

From Middle English [Term?], from Middle French medaille, medale, from Italian medaglia (originally "half a denarius"), from Early Medieval Latin medālia, feminine derived via dissimilation (/dj–lj/ > /d–lj/) from mediālia, neuter plural of Late Latin mediālis (“middle”, adjective), from Classical Latin medius.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Spanish Medal, itself a surname of Galician origin. This surname is predominantly found in Nicaragua.

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