medal

(med′'l)

noun

a small, flat piece of metal with a design or inscription stamped or inscribed on it, made to commemorate some event, or awarded for some distinguished action, merit, etc.
a similar piece of metal with a religious figure or design, worn or carried as an aid to piety

Origin: Fr médaille < It medaglia < VL *medalia, a small coin < *medialia < LL medialis, medial

Rare to honor with a medal

Related Forms:

See medal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A flat piece of metal stamped with a design or an inscription commemorating an event or a person, often given as an award.
A piece of metal stamped with a religious device, used as an object of veneration or commemoration.

verb med·aled also med·alled, med·al·ing also med·al·ling, med·als also med·als
Informal

verb, intransitive

To win a medal, as in a sports contest: “We were the first Americans to medal” (Jill Watson).

verb, transitive

To award a medal to.

Origin:

Origin: French médaille

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Italian medaglia, coin worth half a denarius, medal

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *medālia, coins worth half a denarius

Origin: , from Late Latin mediālia, little halves

Origin: , from