What does crusado mean?
A crusado is a former coin of the Iberian Peninsula, minted in both Portugal and Spain during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. Its name comes from the cross — the 'cruz' — that appeared on one face of the coin, a design feature common to Christian-era currency of the time. Crusados circulated in the era of maritime exploration, when Portuguese and Spanish merchants, sailors, and colonial administrators used them in trade across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Today the word survives chiefly as a historical and numismatic term, encountered in accounts of Renaissance commerce, treasure inventories, and period literature rather than in ordinary conversation. Because it is archaic, using 'crusado' signals a historical or literary register; writers typically invoke it to lend authenticity to descriptions of early modern money, voyages, and markets.
nounA crusado is a historical silver or gold coin formerly minted in Portugal and Spain, so named because it bore the image of a cross.
- A former silver or gold coin of Portugal or Spain bearing the figure of a cross.
"The ship's manifest recorded payment of three hundred crusados for the cargo of spices."
"Merchants along the Lisbon waterfront traded goods priced in crusados."
"Among the salvaged treasure were several tarnished crusados from the sixteenth century."
Standard English plural, formed regularly with -s.
"He paid ten crusados for the barrel of wine."
The word 'crusado' literally means 'crossed' — this old Portuguese and Spanish coin was named for the cross stamped on its face.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crusado
The word 'crusado' derives from the Portuguese and Spanish 'cruzado', meaning 'marked with a cross', from 'cruz' (cross), which traces back through Latin 'crux'. The coin took its name from the cross depicted on it. It shares this Latin root with related English words such as 'crusade', 'crucial', 'crucifix', and 'crux', all of which descend from the same source.
How crusado is actually used
Archaic and historical; found mainly in dictionaries of numismatics, historical fiction, and texts about early modern trade. Not in everyday modern use.
Easily confused with crusado
A crusade is a medieval religious military campaign (or figuratively, an energetic movement), while a crusado is a monetary coin bearing a cross.