gelt

noun

1
informal : money
Guilt turns to gelt as Stephanie's wealthy parents … welcome their disowned daughter back with open arms and open coffers.TV Guide
2
: chocolate candy in the shape of coins often given to Jewish children at Hanukkah
Lila thought of Sarah's party—how everyone got bags of Hanukkah gelt, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.Rosellen Brown

Examples of gelt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Sunday, the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach hosted an afternoon of fun and games, with a chocolate gelt drop from a firetruck ladder, activities for children, treats for all and a concert. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025 Each letter on the dreidel instructs a player to add gelt to the pot, take from the pot, or do nothing. Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 18 Dec. 2025 That's when other customs Americans typically associate with the holiday—such as gifts, parties, and gold coins known as gelt—came to life. Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 14 Dec. 2025 The surfboard menorah will be lit in the Cobblestone Area of Laguna Main Beach as part of an event beginning at 2 p.m. that will also include face painting, craft-making opportunities for children and latkes and gelt. City News Service, Daily News, 14 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gelt

Word History

Etymology

Dutch & German geld & Yiddish gelt; all akin to Old English geld geld entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gelt was circa 1529

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Cite this Entry

“Gelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gelt. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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