tala

¹ American  

[tah-luh] / ˈtɑ lə /

noun

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

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tala ² American  

[tah-luh] / ˈtɑ lə /

noun

plural

tala

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

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tala British  

/ ˈtɑːlə /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Samoa, divided into 100 sene

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Etymology

Origin of tala¹

1890–95; < Sanskrit tāla; compare Hindi tāl

Origin of tala²

1965–70; < Samoan tālā < English dollar

Example Sentences

Remarkably few insect bites showed under the transparent haze of golden hair, but he reeked of tala.

From The Test Colony by Marks, Winston K.

Borassus flabelliformis lontar tâla J. and S. lontar; Bat. otal; Mak. tala; Bu. ta; Tag. tual.

From A Manual of the Malay language With an Introductory Sketch of the Sanskrit Element in Malay by Maxwell, William Edward, Sir

There were picnics and beach parties where our guests brought their own tala, and ours was carefully rationed.

From The Test Colony by Marks, Winston K.

The locative need not be used with lao: lao rodo in the night, lao tala in the path, lao salo in the sky.

From Grammar and Vocabulary of the Lau Language, Solomon Islands by Ivens, W. G. (Walter George)

They invite a couple of natives who supply the tala.

From The Test Colony by Marks, Winston K.