also: おちょうもく
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)
In the old days, people used to shop with zeni coins.
Put a coin offering into the saisen box.
Polite prefixed form now often used.
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.