Kati
/ˈkɑːti/noun
A traditional Asian unit of weight, approximately equivalent to a catty.
Did you know?The kati was not globally fixed in size; its value varied by region, reflecting the fragmented measurement systems of premodern Asian trade.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Old Chinese
斤
“A unit of weight, later pronounced jin in Mandarin.”
Medieval period
Southern Chinese varieties
kīn / kat
“Regional pronunciations of the Chinese weight term circulated through maritime trade.”
Medieval–Early Modern period
Malay
kati
“A Southeast Asian commercial weight, adopted into Malay from Chinese trading communities.”
Early Modern period
Dutch and regional trade English
kati
“A recorded Southeast Asian unit of weight used in colonial commercial contexts.”
Modern English
English
kati
“A loanword for a traditional Asian weight, also known as a catty.”