tala

[tah-luh]

noun

a repeated rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed beats played on a percussion instrument in Indian music.

Origin of tala

1890–95; < Sanskrit tāla; compare Hindi tāl

tala

[tah-luh]

noun, plural ta·la.

a paper money, cupronickel or silver coin, and monetary unit of Western Samoa, equal to 100 sene.

Origin of tala

1965–70; < Samoan tālā < English dollar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tala

Historical Examples of tala

This last anecdote, by Nelson, appears to be contradicted by Hay of Tala.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart
Andrew Lang
Within a few days, Donnegan related, everybody was nipping on the tala.
The Test Colony
Winston Marks
Why did they come into the clearing when they drank the tala?
The Test Colony
Winston Marks
We had not yet got a clear idea of the nature of Tala Mungongo.
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa
David Livingstone
Tala and Langi returned to Pulotu and told about their ill-usage.
Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before
George Turner

British Dictionary definitions for tala

tala

noun

the standard monetary unit of Samoa, divided into 100 sene

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