shroff
Americannoun
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(in India) a banker or moneychanger.
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(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)
noun
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(in China, Japan, etc, esp formerly) an expert employed to separate counterfeit money or base coin from the genuine
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(in India) a moneychanger or banker
verb
Etymology
Origin of shroff
First recorded in 1610–20; earlier sharoffe from Portuguese xarrafo, probably from Gujarati śaraf, from Arabic ṣayrāfī “moneychanger”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Red Wand stood by the abacus, rattling the brown beads with flying fingers, like a shroff.
From Dragon's blood by Rideout, Henry Milner
The shroff was very fearful, but as he was to be compradore now, to do the work of a European, he could not show fear.
From Civilization Tales of the Orient by La Motte, Ellen Newbold
He left his affairs in the hands of the shroff, the Chinese accountant, who could be trusted to manage them for a short time.
From Civilization Tales of the Orient by La Motte, Ellen Newbold
The slayer hid his knife; The robber laid his plunder back; the shroff Counted full tale of coins; all evil hearts Grew gentle, kind hearts gentler, as the balm Of that divinest Daybreak lightened Earth.
From The Light of Asia by Arnold, Edwin, Sir
The shroff will come to ask about his title-deed.
From Guns of the Gods by Mundy, Talbot
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
