pe|so

pe|so «PAY soh», noun, plural -sos.

1. the unit of money in various countries of Latin America and in the Philippines, usually equal to 100 centavos.

2. a coin or piece of paper money equal to a peso in any of these countries. 100 centavos make a peso.

3. the unit of money of Guinea-Bissau, introduced in 1976.

4. a former gold or silver coin used in Spain and in the Spanish colonies, worth eight reals; a piece of eight.

5. U.S. Slang. an American dollar.

╂[< Spanish peso a coin of a certain weight; weight < Latin pēnsum, past participle of pendere to weigh. Compare etym. under poise¹. (Cf. ↑poise)]