a monetary unit of Russia and Belarus worth one hundredth of a rouble: coins are still used as tokens for coin-operated machinery although the kopeck itself is virtually valueless
Word origin
Russian kopeika, from kopye lance; so called because of the representation of Tsar Ivan IV on the coin with alance in his hand
kopeck in American English
(ˈkoʊˌpɛk) or ˈkoˌpek (ˈkoʊˌpɛk)
noun
a monetary unit of various countries, equal to 1⁄100 of a ruble
abbrev. k or kop
Word origin
Russ kopyejka < kopye, a lance: so named from the lance held by czar represented on the coin