Meanings
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1
noun
historical: a gold or silver coin formerly issued by many European states, especially the widely traded gold ducat
The lookout received a ducat for being first to sight the whale.
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2
noun
dated or informal: money in general
After paying for passage, he had not a ducat left to his name.
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3
noun
US slang, dated: a ticket of admission
She presented her ducat at the theater door.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Italian ducato, from Medieval Latin ducatus, and ultimately Latin dux, meaning leader or duke. The name first referred to a silver coin minted by the Duke of Apulia in 1190; later Venetian gold ducats made the denomination famous across Europe.