whatsthatwordmean

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tael

/teɪl/
noun
  1. A unit of weight used in East Asia, especially for precious metals like gold and silver, traditionally equal to about 1.3 ounces (37 grams).
    • The jeweler quoted the price of the necklace per tael of gold.
    • In ancient China, merchants used the tael to measure silver coins.
    • The gold bar weighed exactly one tael.
  2. A former Chinese monetary unit based on the weight of silver, used in trade and accounting.
    • The emperor's treasury held millions of taels in silver reserves.
    • In the 19th century, foreign traders in Canton conducted business using the tael.
    • The treaty required payment of 10,000 taels of silver as compensation.