paisa

noun

pai·​sa pī-ˈsä How to pronounce paisa (audio)
1
plural paisa a monetary subunit of the rupee (Nepal, Pakistan) and taka see rupee, taka at Money Table
2
plural paise pī-ˈsā How to pronounce paisa (audio) a monetary subunit of the rupee (India) see rupee at Money Table

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Hindi & Urdu paisā, a quarter-anna coin, from Old Indo-Aryan *padāmśa quarter part; akin to Sanskrit pada footstep and aṁśa part

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paisa was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near paisa

Cite this Entry

“Paisa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paisa. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on paisa

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!