Ruble

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹuːbəl/

Definitions

1. A form of monetary exchange in Russia and select neighboring regions, traditionally represented by both coins and paper notes
2. This financial instrument serves as the official currency in modern Russia and has historical roots in the Soviet Union
3. A unit of currency that functions as the legal tender in Russia and may be found in various denominations such as notes and coins

Etymology: The Russian "рубль" (rublʹ) comes from an older Russian word meaning "to chop" or "to cut," and the currency took its name from the notched or cut pieces of metal or bar that once served as money. English borrowed the term directly from Russian, and the spelling "ruble" sits alongside "rubel" and "rubl," all three being doublets that reflect different transliteration habits rather than different words. Because the Russian name is tied to the act of cutting, the currency's name records a time when value was measured by the piece of metal removed from a larger whole rather than by a stamped coin. English speakers met the word through trade and reporting about Russia, which is why it appears in English as a foreign loanword rather than something inherited from older English vocabulary.

Synonyms: currency, money