\Dol"lar\, n. [D. daalder, LG. dahler, G. thaler, an
abbreviation of Joachimsthaler, i. e., a piece of money first
coined, about the year 1518, in the valley (G. thal) of St.
Joachim, in Bohemia. See {Dale}.]
1.
   (a) A silver coin of the United States containing 371.25
       grains of silver and 41.25 grains of alloy, that is,
       having a total weight of 412.5 grains.
   (b) A gold coin of the United States containing 23.22
       grains of gold and 2.58 grains of alloy, that is,
       having a total weight of 25.8 grains, nine-tenths
       fine. It is no longer coined.
Note: Previous to 1837 the silver dollar had a larger amount
      of alloy, but only the same amount of silver as now,
      the total weight being 416 grains. The gold dollar as a
      distinct coin was first made in 1849. The eagles, half
      eagles, and quarter eagles coined before 1834 contained
      24.75 grains of gold and 2.25 grains of alloy for each
      dollar.
2. A coin of the same general weight and value, though
   differing slightly in different countries, current in
   Mexico, Canada, parts of South America, also in Spain, and
   several other European countries.
3. The value of a dollar; the unit commonly employed in the
   United States in reckoning money values.
{Chop dollar}. See under 9th {Chop}.
{Dollar fish} (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the United States coast
   ({Stromateus triacanthus}), having a flat, roundish form
   and a bright silvery luster; -- called also {butterfish},
   and {Lafayette}. See {Butterfish}.
{Trade dollar}, a silver coin formerly made at the United
   States mint, intended for export, and not legal tender at
   home. It contained 378 grains of silver and 42 grains of
   alloy.