Aslan
Definition
An archaic term given to Dutch silver coins (thalers or löwenthalers) engraved with a lion on the reverse, heavily used in the Romanian Principalities during the 17th and 18th centuries; by extension, the term was popularly used to denote a very strong, courageous man, an imposing leader, or a person of high status, adopting the literal meaning from the Turkish language where the word means lion.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Aslan
- Lion thaler
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Masculine noun, regular structural plural variations. |
| Formation | Loanword derived from Turkish ('aslan' meaning lion), historically adapted into the old Romanian financial lexicon. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | [as.ˈlan] |
| Source | Glossary of Ancient Southeastern European Numismatics |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: Negustorul de la Dunăre cerea trei aslani de argint pentru mătasea adusă de la Constantinopol.
EN: The merchant from the Danube demanded three silver aslans for the silk brought from Constantinople.
RO: În actele vechi ale visteriei se menționează plata dărilor către Poartă calculate în aslani grei.
EN: The old treasury documents mention the payment of dues to the Porte calculated in heavy aslans.
RO: Flăcăul acela era un aslan de om, capabil să ridice singur căruța împotmolită în noroi.
EN: That lad was a lion of a man, capable of lifting the cart stuck in the mud all by himself.
Idioms & Phrases
Aslan greu / Heavy aslan
RO: Monedă de argint cu titlu mare și greutate standard, extrem de căutată pe piețele comerciale balcanice.
EN: A silver coin with a high silver content and standard weight, highly sought after in the Balkan commercial markets.
Om ca un aslan / Man like an aslan
RO: Expresie populară folosită pentru a lăuda statura impozantă, forța fizică deosebită sau curajul cuiva.
EN: A popular expression used to praise someone's imposing stature, exceptional physical strength, or courage.
Plată în aslani / Payment in aslans
RO: Tranzacție financiară efectuată exclusiv în monedă forte olandeză pentru a garanta valoarea mărfurilor de lux.
EN: A financial transaction carried out exclusively in strong Dutch currency to guarantee the value of luxury goods.
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