rupee

noun

Etymology: Coined by Sher Shah Suri, the Sultan of the Suri Empire 1540–1545 as Hindustani रुपीया / رُوپِییَہ (rūpīya), variant of रुपया / رُوپَیَہ (rūpaya, “rupee”), from Sanskrit रूप्यक (rūpyaka, “silver coin”), from रूप्य (rūpya, “wrought gold or silver; stamped coin; beautiful, well-shaped; impressed, stamped”). Doublet of rufiyaa and rupiah.

1. The common name for the monetary currencies used in modern India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles, or Sri Lanka.

   “In fact, the visible appearance of the iron is a symbol; it is not what it ultimately is. To take an analogy we are given a ten-rupee note. He knows it truly who at sight recognizes the piece of paper as a symbol of unity that represents ten separate silver coins.”

   “In the fifth and sixth [standard] I obtained scholarships of rupees four and ten respectively, an achievement for which I have to thank good luck more than my merit.”

2. A silver coin circulating in India between the 16th and 20th centuries, weighing one tola (formerly 170–180 troy grains; from 1833, 180 troy grains).

   “The only Evidence that was produced by the [East India] Company, was, a letter from Samuel Annesley, at Surrat, dated the 16th January 1694; wherein he gives this Account: Rupees. 655,000. Sent home as Cargo in the Ships Defence and Resolution.”

   “The roupie, as the French write it, roupee, or rupee, as it is ſpelt in our authors, is a ſilver coin, ſomething broader than one of our ſhillings, and much thicker; in point of fineneſs, it is better than the Engliſh ſtandard; for its weight is 7 dwt. 11 gr. which, reduced to our ſtandard, would be 7 dwt. 13 mt. ²⁄₂²⁄₆¹⁄₆³⁄₄.”

3. The primary currency of Hyrule.