besaunt

Middle English

Alternative forms

• besand, besant, besaund, besawnt, bessant, beysant, bysaund

Etymology

From Old French besant, from Latin byzantius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛːˈza(u̯)nt/, /bɛˈza(u̯)nt/, /ˈbɛːza(u̯)nt/, /ˈbɛza(u̯)nt/

Noun

besaunt (plural besauntes or besauns)

1. A bezant (Byzantine gold coin) or similar coin:
   1. A bezant serving as ornament.
   2. An ancient coin, especially a talent, drachma, or mina.
2. (figurative) A talent or skill.

Descendants

• English: bezant, basant, besant, byzant

References

• “bē̆saunt, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.