also: おちょうもく
noun
Historical term for money, especially the round coins with a square hole (zeni). Now often used with the polite prefix お as お鳥目, particularly in traditional or ceremonial contexts.
See also: 銭 (ぜに)
昔は鳥目で買い物をしたものだ。
In the old days, people used to shop with zeni coins.
お鳥目を賽銭箱に入れる。
Put a coin offering into the saisen box.
銭 is the more common term for the same type of coin; 鳥目 is a historical or euphemistic synonym, now mostly seen as お鳥目.
The origin is uncertain; the kanji literally mean 'bird eye', possibly from the round shape of the coins resembling a bird's eye, or from the square hole resembling a bird's eye. The exact derivation is unclear.