Shek'el, n.

(shĕk'əl) (Synop., § 130), n. [Heb., from shākal, to weigh; Lat. siclus, Fr. sicle, Ger. seckel.] An ancient weight and coin among the Jews, and other nations of the same stock, equivalent to twenty gerahs, equal in weight to about half an ounce avoirdupois, and in value equal to about sixty-two and one half cents.