adhio

noun

ˈä-ˌdē-ˌō 

plural adhio

: a large coin that has a circular hole in its center and that was minted for use in the Indian state of Kutch from 1943 to 1946

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Kachchhi (Indo-Aryan speech of Kutch) ādhio "half of a kori," cognate with Sindhi ādhio "half of a split date, half a rupee," derivative of ādho "half," going back to *ārdhiya-, derivative of Sanskrit ārdha-, variant, in compounds, of ardhaḥ "part, side, half"; akin to Avestan arəƍa- "half," both from an Indo-Iranian etymon probably going back to an Indo-European base h₁erdh-, whence Lithuanian ardyti "to pull down, dismantle, demolish," erdvus "spacious, roomy, loose," erdvė "space"

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Rhymes for adhio

• brio
• io