Etymology Map
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Altyn

3 stages from Turkic to English.

Today it means an old Russian coin worth three kopecks

Where does the word "altyn" come from? It comes from Turkic altın, passing through Russian before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
altın
Turkic · medieval
"gold"
the Turkic word for gold; the Golden Horde was 'Altın Orda'
2
Stage 2 of 3
altyn
Russian · 1400s-1700s
"three-kopeck coin"
a Muscovite money of account worth three kopecks, named after the Tatar gold coin
3
Stage 3 of 3
altyn
English · 1600s
"an old Russian coin"
appears in English merchants' accounts of Muscovite money
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Read the full story

Altyn’s story begins in Turkic: altın meant “gold.” The Turkic word for gold; the Golden Horde was 'Altın Orda'. By 1400s-1700s, the word had taken hold in Russian as altyn. A Muscovite money of account worth three kopecks, named after the Tatar gold coin. It reached English by 1600s as altyn. Appears in English merchants' accounts of Muscovite money. Today, altyn means an old Russian coin worth three kopecks.