Belgian franc
- noun
- Archaic
:
franco belga
- In 2001, the exchange rate was 40 Belgian francs for every euro.
Examples
-
Fifty thousand Belgian francs.
-
Initial amount of Belgian francs: 12,345,676.
Academic text (1999) -
As an example, consider converting Belgian francs to Austrian shillings.
Academic text (1999) -
It should be noted that by the time of independence, the colonial state had accumulated a debt of about nine billion Bf (Belgian francs), mostly in the form of bonds owned by private subscribers in Belgium.
Academic text (1992) -
When he traveled to Belgium, he brought with him 1,000 Belgian francs to spend.
-
The cost of the ticket was 15 Belgian francs before the currency was changed to euros.
Synonyms
54
6.5
A type of money used in some countries and formerly used in France
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the currency of Belgium' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'Belgian' (relating to Belgium) with 'franc' (a unit of currency). The demonym + currency pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Belgian franc combines Belgian (from Belgium) and franc (an old French coin). When Belgium became a country it used its own 'franc' as its 'money', so the Belgian franc was the unit people used until the euro replaced it in 2002.