Pĭ-ăs'ter, n.

n. [Fr. piastre, O. Sp. piastra, piastro, It. piastra, a thin plate of metal, a dollar, L. Lat. piastra, from Lat. emplastrum, Gr. ἔμπλαστρον, ἔμπλατον, a plaster, from ἐμπλάσσειν, to plaster up, to daub over.] An Italian coin of about 80 cents value, or 3s. 7d. sterling. But the value is different in different states or countries. The Spanish piaster is the same as the Spanish or American dollar. The Turkish piaster, formerly worth 25 cents, is now worth only about 8 cents. McCulloch.