Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) Meeting certain standard of quality or value; thoroughly excellent.

2. (n.) Same as Starling.

3. (n.) Any English coin of standard value; coined money.

4. (a.) Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; -- now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used.

5. (a.) Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.