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Glite Dictionary
pyx chest

pyx chest

9.9
A locked box that holds newly made coins before they are checked for quality
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : caja de pyx
  • The gold coins were locked in the pyx chest until the official assay took place.

Examples

  • After minting, new sovereigns were sealed in the pyx chest pending inspection by the assayers.

  • Medieval records describe guards stationed by the pyx chest at the royal mint.

  • The pyx chest was filled with freshly minted coins.

  • Many pyx chests were stored in the vault.

  • After minting, new sovereigns were sealed in the pyx chest pending inspection by the assayers.

  • The gold coins were locked in the pyx chest until the official assay took place.

  • Medieval records describe guards stationed by the pyx chest at the royal mint.

Synonyms

pyx
vspyx chest
  • UK
9.9

A box for storing newly made coins before officials test them

is the compound phrase of the same meaning rather than the single word
pix chest
vspyx chest
  • UK
9.9

A chest that holds newly made coins until officials check them

refers to the same chest but uses a different initial letter spelling
pix
vspyx chest
  • UK
9.9

A locked box that holds new coins from a mint before testing

is the longer compound form that names the same chest rather than the single word

Surface Forms

pyx chest singular
pyx chests plural

Morphology

pyx + chest

The noun combines a specific type label 'pyx' (a mint box for coins awaiting assay) with the general container 'chest', so its meaning — a chest used for pyx/coins — is directly derivable from the constituents. Although 'pyx' is specialized vocabulary, for a learner who already knows both words the composition is fully compositional and predictable.

Etymology

Pyx chest comes from old mint practice: a small locked chest, the pyx, held newly made coins until they were 'checked' for quality. So it means a box used to keep coins safe at the mint until they are 'checked'.