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

“As soon as the machine runs, tens of thousands of taels of gold are made.”

From New York Times

While in China, it is the "Full Three Taels" – a "tael" being a weight measure used in the far east.

From The Guardian

A plant known as ginseng is said to greatly prolong and sweeten existence, and sometimes as much as a thousand taels of silver are given for a pound’s weight of the precious root.

From Project Gutenberg

"There are the two taels, most illustrious war tiger," said the countryman, giving the money and taking his choice.

From Project Gutenberg

Export trade, which did not exist five-and-twenty years ago, now reaches a total of about fifteen million taels per annum.

From Project Gutenberg