Possibly from Middle Dutch groot, the Old French gros Tournois (“a coin of Tours”), gros being from Medieval Latin denarius grossus (“large coin”). Related to German Groschen.
Meanings
(archaic, historical) Any of various old coins of England and Scotland.
The Widdow that hath but a pan of braſſe,
And ſcarſe a houſe to hide her head,
Sometimes no penny to buy her bread,
Muſt pay her Landlord many a groat,
Or twil be puld out of her throat: 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
(archaic, historical) Any of various old coins of England and Scotland. ▸ Any unit of currency worth four pence.
(archaic, historical) Any of various old coins of England and Scotland. ▸ A historical English coin representing such a unit: a silver coin worth four English pennies, still minted as one of the set of Maundy coins.
The needy groom, that never finger'd groat,
Would make a miracle of thus much coin … c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I: