Etymology Map
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Ruble

3 stages from Old Russian to English.

Today it means the basic monetary unit of Russia and Belarus

Where does the word "ruble" come from? It comes from Old Russian rubl', passing through Russian before entering English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
rubl'
Old Russian · 1300s
"chopped piece of silver"
from rubit' 'to chop': Novgorod used silver bars as money, and a rubl' was a piece chopped from one
2
Stage 2 of 3
rubl'
Russian · 1704
"Russian currency unit"
Peter the Great's reform made the ruble equal to 100 kopeks, the world's first decimal currency
3
Stage 3 of 3
ruble
English · 1550s
"Russian money"
brought home by merchants of the Muscovy Company, chartered in 1555 to trade with Russia
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Read the full story

Ruble’s story begins in Old Russian: rubl' meant “chopped piece of silver.” From rubit' 'to chop': Novgorod used silver bars as money, and a rubl' was a piece chopped from one. By 1704, the word had taken hold in Russian as rubl'. Peter the Great's reform made the ruble equal to 100 kopeks, the world's first decimal currency. It reached English by 1550s as ruble. Brought home by merchants of the Muscovy Company, chartered in 1555 to trade with Russia. Today, ruble means the basic monetary unit of Russia and Belarus.