'To pay one in his own coin' definitions:

Definition of 'To pay one in his own coin'

From: GCIDE
  • Coin \Coin\ (koin), n. [F. coin, formerly also coing, wedge, stamp, corner, fr. L. cuneus wedge; prob. akin to E. cone, hone. See Hone, n., and cf. Coigne, Quoin, Cuneiform.]
  • 1. A quoin; a corner or external angle; a wedge. See Coigne, and Quoin. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A piece of metal on which certain characters are stamped by government authority, making it legally current as money; -- much used in a collective sense. [1913 Webster]
  • It is alleged that it [a subsidy] exceeded all the current coin of the realm. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. That which serves for payment or recompense. [1913 Webster]
  • The loss of present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a nobler coin. --Hammond. [1913 Webster]
  • Coin balance. See Illust. of Balance.
  • To pay one in his own coin, to return to one the same kind of injury or ill treatment as has been received from him. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]