tael

American  

[teyl] / teɪl /

noun

1. liang.

2. any of various similar units of weight in East Asia.

3. a former Chinese money of account, being the value of this weight of standard silver.

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tael British  

/ teɪl /

noun

1. a unit of weight, used in the Far East, having various values between one to two and a half ounces

2. (formerly) a Chinese monetary unit equivalent in value to a tael weight of standard silver

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Etymology

Origin of tael

First recorded in 1580–90; from Portuguese from Malay tahil “liang”

Example Sentences

The cash of Tongchuan are very small and inferior, 2000 being equivalent to one tael, whereas in Chaotong, 110 miles away, the cash vary from 1260 to 1640 the tael.

From An Australian in China Being the Narrative of a Quiet Journey Across China to Burma by Morrison, George Ernest

This, the only coin minted by the government, should bear a fixed ratio of 1000 cash to one tael of silver, but in practice there is no such fixed value.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

The value of the Haikwan tael, or customs tael, is about 4s. 9d.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

She had only got at Priaman 312 bahars of pepper, and twenty tael of gold.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 08 by Kerr, Robert

The tael is not a coin, but a weight.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2 "Chicago, University of" to "Chiton" by Various