yen
The origin and history of yen.
Etymology
The currency sense comes from Japanese en ("round object"), via Chinese yinyuan ("round silver piece"). The "craving" sense is unrelated, tracing instead to an old slang word for a craving for opium.
The origin and history of yen.
The currency sense comes from Japanese en ("round object"), via Chinese yinyuan ("round silver piece"). The "craving" sense is unrelated, tracing instead to an old slang word for a craving for opium.