paisa
(ˈpaɪsə)
Pl. paise, -a, paisas.
[a. Hindi paisā: see pice.]
a. = pice. b. A coin and decimalized unit of currency, equal in value to one-hundredth of a rupee, in India (since 1957: see naya paisa), Pakistan (since 1966), and Nepal, and to one hundredth of a taka in Bangladesh.
| 1884 [see dam n.5]. 1924 Regions Beyond XLV. 44 Flowers are scattered upon the waters, coins are dropped into the depths, perhaps only a paisa (farthing), but the giver is poor and needy. 1956, etc. [see naya paisa.] 1959 [see anna]. 1963 Times 8 May 21/4 Last year the Pakistan Government made a reduction of 40 per cent—from 25 paise to 15 paise per lb.—in export duty. 1969 Sunday Tel. 12 Jan. 7/3 Hashish candy..is available for 50 Nepalese paise. This is about 3d. 1969 Enact (Delhi) Dec. 7/3 Oh! You are a munim all over, always counting paisas. 1971 Femina (Bombay) 16 Apr. 55/1 Your family won't even know you've been counting every paise [sic]. 1975 Bangladesh Observer (Dacca) 26 July 2/4 (Advt.), Cement... Taka 7.50 (seven and paisa fifty) only per ton. 1978 L. Heren Growing up on The Times v. 166 The more affluent Indians..gave beggars paise, or fractions of farthings. |