Tahil
/ˈtɑː.hɪl/noun
A traditional Southeast Asian unit of weight, equivalent to a tael.
Did you know?Tahil is essentially the Malay form behind English tael, a unit used historically for weighing precious metals, medicines, and goods in Asian trade.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern Period
Malay
tahil
“A traditional unit of weight used in the Malay world.”
16th–17th Century
Hokkien/Malay trade
tahil
“A commercial weight associated with Chinese–Southeast Asian maritime exchange.”
17th Century
English
tael
“An imported Asian unit of weight, especially in descriptions of China and Southeast Asian trade.”
18th–19th Century
English
tahil
“A recorded variant form of tael in English-language accounts.”
Modern English
English
tahil
“A rare dictionary word referring to the traditional tael-like unit of weight.”
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