THE LAST PIASTER

Yesterday, I was listening to Steely Dan's Doctor Wu for the upteenth time, and again I wondered what a piaster might be.

Just when I'd spent the last piaster
I could borrow

It was obviously money, but I looked it up. Meaning: a monetary subunit of the pound (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria); also, a piece of eight or a unit of currency equal to 1/100th of the primary unit of currency in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.

It's sometimes spelled piastre.

I enjoy Steely Dan and Doctor Wu.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

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