medal

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Middle French medaille, medale, from Italian medaglia (originally "half a denarius"), from Early Medieval Latin medālia, feminine derived via dissimilation (/dj–lj/ > /d–lj/) from mediālia, neuter plural of Late Latin mediālis (“middle”, adj), from Classical Latin medius.

noun

1. A stamped metal disc used as a personal ornament, a charm, or a religious object.
   Whether their images, shrines, relics, consecrated things, holy water, medals, benedictions, those divine amulets, holy exorcisms, and the sign of the cross, be available in this disease? , II.i.3
2. A stamped or cast metal object (usually a disc), particularly one awarded as a prize or reward.

verb

1. (intransitive, sports, colloquial) To win a medal.
   He medalled twice at the Olympics.
   I dashed into the mall; bought a gift; raced to the card store, snapped up a two-fer gift-bag special and was back in my car in 26 minutes. I could medal in power shopping. 2004-10-29, Carol McAlice Currie, “Unposted laws make downtown seem unwelcoming”, in Statesman Journal, volume 152, number 214, Salem, OR, page 1C
   I wanted to medal. I was pregnant and I wanted to medal. 2013-01-13, “Je Ne Sais What?”, in The Good Wife, season 4, episode 12, spoken by Anna (Elizabeth Alderfer)
2. (transitive) To award a medal to.