Definition of dirham Dirham

dir•ham

We found 5 definitions of dirham from 5 different sources.

What does dirham mean?

Noun
dirham - the basic unit of money in the United Arab Emirates; equal to 1,000 fils
		United Arab Emirate dirham

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dirham (Noun)
A unit of currency used with varying value in many Arabic countries, including Morocco, the United Arab Emirates , Libya and Qatar.

Historically, the word "dirham" is comes from 'dirhem' which comes from the name of a Greek coin, the Drachm; the Byzantine Empire controlled the Levant and traded with Arabia, circulating the coin there in pre-Islamic times and afterward. It was this currency which was first used as an Arab word. Near the end of the 7th century, the coin became an Islamic currency. It had the name of the sovereign and a religious verse on it. The dirham was used by many Mediterranean countries, including Spain. It could be used as currency in Europe between the 10th and 12 centuries.

Similar currencies.

The Armenian dram is a currency whose name bears a similar origin. The dinar is a currency used in the Muslim world but originating with the Romans.