tael

noun

ˈtāl How to pronounce tael (audio)
1
: any of various Chinese units of value based on the value of a tael weight of silver
2
: any of various units of weight of eastern Asia

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Malay tahil

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tael was in 1588

Browse Nearby Words

tae kwon do
tael
taen-
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tael.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tael. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tael

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