Definition

Noun: 1. A former Austrian unit of currency: A "groschen" was a monetary subunit, specifically 1/100th of an Austrian schilling. It is a historical term as the schilling is no longer in use. 2. A small coin: More generally, the term can refer to a small coin of low value, especially in historical or Central European contexts.

Usage Examples

• As a specific currency unit:
  • The price was listed as 5 schilling and 50 groschen.
  • Before the euro, 100 groschen made one Austrian schilling.
• As a general term for a small coin:
  • He didn't have a groschen to his name. (Meaning: He was completely penniless.)

Advanced Usage

• "Not worth a groschen": An idiom meaning something is completely worthless or of no value.
  • His promise wasn't worth a groschen.

Variants and Related Words

• Groschen is both singular and plural. The form "groschens" is rarely used.
• Groschen is etymologically related to the English word "groat", which was also a historical coin of small value.

Synonyms

• Penny
• Cent
• Pfennig (German historical coin)
• Heller (another historical Central European small coin)

Related Idioms

• "Not have a groschen to bless oneself with": To be extremely poor.
  • After the war, many families didn't have a groschen to bless themselves with.

Noun

1. 100 groschen equal 1 schilling in Austria