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What is "to pay one in his own coin"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To pay one in his own coin

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.

  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.

    It is alleged that it [a subsidy] exceeded all the current coin of the realm.
    --Hallam.

  3. That which serves for payment or recompense.

    The loss of present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a nobler coin.
    --Hammond.

    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.