shroff

[ shrof ]

noun

(in India) a banker or money-changer.
(in East Asia, especially China) a local expert employed to test the purity of a coin’s metal content, especially silver or gold.

verb (used with object)

to test (coins) to ascertain the purity of the metal content, especially silver or gold.

Origin of shroff

First recorded in 1610–20; earlier sharoffe from Portuguese xarrafo, probably from Gujarati śaraf, from Arabic ṣayrāfī “moneychanger”

Words Nearby shroff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shroff in a sentence

[WWD] Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from Ms. Lederhaas-Okun's attorney Sabria shroff.
Former Tiffany & Co. Executive Pleads Guilty to Jewelry Theft | Erin Cunningham | July 29, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Reached by phone Friday, the lawyer, Sabrina shroff, said she would not comment on details of the case.
Did U.S. Help 'Merchant of Death'? | Philip Shenon | November 20, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
If any money stamped by a shroff on examination proved bad, it was exchanged by him, but such cases were extremely rare.
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 | William C. Hunter
I have heard of as much as fifty taels (about $70) being paid to an important shroff-shop for such a transaction.
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 | William C. Hunter
There now remains the shroff, or money dealer, whose services were indispensable, particularly in receipts.
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 | William C. Hunter

The Red Wand stood by the abacus, rattling the brown beads with flying fingers, like a shroff.
Dragon's blood | Henry Milner Rideout
The Julamerik shroff sent word that the English sovereign is selling at 16s.
Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume II (of 2) | Isabella L. Bird

British Dictionary definitions for shroff

shroff

/ (ʃrɒf) /

noun

(in China, Japan, etc, esp formerly) an expert employed to separate counterfeit money or base coin from the genuine
(in India) a moneychanger or banker

verb

(tr) to test (money) and separate out the counterfeit and base

Origin of shroff

C17: from Portuguese xarrafo, from Hindi sarrāf moneychanger, from Arabic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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