Definition

1. Noun:
   • A former basic unit of money in Greece: The drachma was the official currency of Greece for much of its modern history until it was replaced by the euro in 2002.
   • A unit of apothecary weight: A historical unit of mass used in pharmacy, equal to one eighth of an ounce or approximately 60 grains (about 3.888 grams).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Currency):
  • Before adopting the euro, prices in Greece were listed in drachma.
  • The old coin collection included several silver drachmas from ancient times.
• Noun (Weight):
  • The ancient recipe called for one drachma of the medicinal herb.
  • Apothecaries once measured powders using scruples and drachmas.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Numismatic Context: The term is often used when discussing economic history, classical antiquity, or coin collecting.
  • The Athenian silver drachma was a widely traded coin in the ancient Mediterranean.
• Figurative Use for Small Amount: Rarely, it can be used figuratively to mean a very small sum of money.
  • He wouldn't give a drachma for that old story. (Implies he wouldn't pay even a small, worthless amount for it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Drachmae (n): An alternative plural form, especially common in historical or academic contexts referring to the ancient currency.
  • The hoard contained hundreds of drachmae.
• Drachm (n): A variant spelling, more commonly used for the unit of weight.
  • The drachm was a standard apothecary measure.

Synonyms

• Currency Sense: Greek currency (historical), coin (specific).
• Weight Sense: Apothecaries' drachm, dram (a closely related unit).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The two primary meanings (currency and weight) belong to entirely different contexts—economics/finance and historical metrology/pharmacy, respectively. The word itself is the same, but the meaning is determined by the topic of discussion.

Noun

1. formerly the basic unit of money in Greece
2. a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce or to 60 grains