sterling

sterling · noun, adjective¹

1. Old English · inherited from*steorling
2. Middle English · inherited fromsterling
3. English todaysterling

From Middle English sterling, possibly from Old English *steorling, from steorra (“star”) and -ling, in reference to the stars that appeared on certain English pennies. Alternatively, the first element may be *stēre, meaning “strong” or “stout” (compare the etymology of solidus).

sterling · noun²

See starling (etymology 1).

sterling · noun³

See starling (etymology 2).

Sterling · proper noun⁴

See Stirling.

First known use, by meaning

• Middle English–18th c. Obsolete form of starling (“a family, Sturnidae, of passerine birds; specifically, the common starling, Sturnus vulgaris, which has dark, iridescent plumage”).
• 18th–20th c. Obsolete form of starling (“an enclosure like a coffer-dam, formed of piles driven closely together before any structure or work, as a protection against the wash of waves, commonly used to protect the piers of a bridge”).