Plural of carlin; a plural form referring to multiple carlino coins, or alternatively, old or wizened women (archaic usage in Scottish and Northern English dialects).
From 'carlin,' which comes from Old Norse 'kerling' (old woman) through Middle English. The word shifted between meanings—originally meaning an old woman in Scots, later applied to the coins as the plural of carlino.
This word is a perfect example of how the same term can mean completely different things depending on context—coins in Italy versus gossips in Scotland—all from the same linguistic root!
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