Sucre

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsuːkɹeɪ/

Definitions

1. A unit of currency used in Ecuador, which was replaced by the United States dollar in 2000
2. A historical coin that has significance in various currency systems
3. A sweet substance or ingredient commonly derived from sugar plants, used in food and beverages

Etymology: The sucre is named after Antonio José de Sucre, a Venezuelan general who was one of the leading commanders in the wars that freed much of South America from Spanish rule. Sucre fought alongside Simón Bolívar, and after the decisive victory at Ayacucho in 1824 he became the first president of Bolivia, which was named in Bolívar's honour. Ecuador adopted the sucre as its currency in 1884, honouring the general who had helped secure the region's independence. The unit was used there for more than a century, until the country's severe financial crisis of the late 1990s led the government to replace it with the United States dollar in 2000.