The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Groat

GROAT (from Dutch groot, great), any large or thick coin of the Middle Ages in Europe. It was usually made of silver and. varied greatly in value from time to time. In England it appeared in 1351 and was once worth fourpence. The German word “groschen” is of the same origin. In the second half of the 14th century the groat was coined in Scotland; and in the 15th century in Ireland.