Seign"ior (?), n. [OF. seignor, F. seigneur, cf. It. signore, Sp. señor
from an objective case of L. senier elder. See Senior.] 1. A lord; the
lord of a manor.
2. A title of honor or of address in the South of Europe, corresponding
to Sir or Mr. in English.
Grand Seignior, the sultan of Turkey.
Seign"ior*age (?), n. [F. seigneuriage, OF. seignorage.] 1. Something
claimed or taken by virtue of sovereign prerogative; specifically, a
charge or toll deducted from bullion brought to a mint to be coined;
the difference between the cost of a mass of bullion and the value as
money of the pieces coined from it.
If government, however, throws the expense of coinage, as is
reasonable, upon the holders, by making a charge to cover the
expense (which is done by giving back rather less in coin than has
been received in bullion, and is called "levying a seigniorage"),
the coin will rise to the extent of the seigniorage above the value
of the bullion.
J. S. Mill.
2. A share of the receipts of a business taken in payment for the use
of a right, as a copyright or a patent.
Seign"ior*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a seignior; seigneurial.
"Kingly or seignioral patronage." Burke.
Seign"ior*al*ty (?), n. The territory or authority of a seignior, or
lord. Milman.
Seign*io"ri*al (?), a. Same as Seigneurial.