notgeld

noun

not·​geld

ˈnȯtˌgeld,

ˈnät-,

G ˈnōtˌgelt

plural -s

: necessity money used in Germany and some eastern European states especially after World War I

Word History

Etymology

German, from not necessity (from Old High German nōt) + geld money (from Old High German gelt income, value)

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

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