Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - medal

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle French medaille, from Old Italian medaglia coin worth half a denarius, ~, from Vulgar Latin *~is half, alteration of Late Latin medialis middle, from Latin medius — more at mid  Date: circa 1578  1. a small usually metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture  2. a piece of metal often resembling a coin and having a stamped design that is issued to commemorate a person or event or awarded for excellence or achievement  II. intransitive verb  (~ed; also ~led; ~ing; also ~ling)  Date: 1979 to win a ~ ~ed in figure skating