Late 16th century. From Dutch †rycksdaeler, †rijcxdaelder, †rijcksdaelder, †rijcksdaler, †rijcxdaler, †rycxdaelder, †rijckxdaeller, †rixdaelder, etc. (now rijksdaalder), denoting any of various silver coins and units of account used in various European countries, as well as in various former Dutch colonies, between the late 16th and mid 19th centuries from rijks-, †rijcks-, combining form of rijk, †rijck realm + daalder, †daelder, †daeler, †daler, probably after early modern German †reichsthaler (although the latter is apparently not attested until later). In some forms after German Reichstaler, †Reichsthaler Reichsthaler. In instances where the word denotes a similar Swedish coin, either directly or indirectly after Swedish riksdaler (1593; 1577 as †rückzdaler; also †richs daller, †rijkzdaler, †rikzdaller, etc.).