Sycee
/ˈsaɪsiː/noun
A traditional Chinese silver ingot used as money, especially before the introduction of modern coinage.
Did you know?The term entered English through Chinese trade vocabulary, but the exact transmission route and pronunciation have varied among Cantonese and other southern Chinese forms.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
細絲
“Fine silk; the source traditionally associated with the name of the ingot”
Late Imperial China
Chinese
細絲銀
“Fine-silk silver, referring to refined silver bullion”
19th Century
Cantonese/Trade English
sai-sze / sai-si
“A Chinese silver ingot; a transcription used in commerce”
19th Century
English
sycee
“A Chinese silver ingot, commonly shaped as a boat or shoe”
Modern English
English
sycee
“A historical Chinese silver bullion ingot used as currency”