▪ I. ‖ viss
(vɪs)
Also 7 vise, vyse, 8 vis.
[ad. Tamil vīsai. Cf. It. byza, Pg. bi{cced}a, in 16th c. writers.]
A weight used in Southern India and Burmah equal to about 3½ lbs.
| [1588 Hickock tr. Federici's Voy. & Trav. 32 b, This Ganza goeth by weight of Byze..and commonly a Byza of a Ganza is worth..halfe a ducket.] 1626 Methold in Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 4) 1003 His peremptory demand of a Vyse of the fairest Diamonds. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 87 The annual Tribute i.e. three pound weight being a Vise of the fairest Stones or Diamonds. 1766 T. Brooks Coins E. Indies 7, 40 Pollams weight is equal to 1 Vis, or 31/8 lb. Avoirdupoise. Ibid. 11, 4 Putas is 1 Viss. 1800 Misc. Tr. in Asiat. Ann. Reg. 319/2 From the wells the oil is carried in small jars, by cooleys,..to the river; where it is delivered to the merchant exporter at 2 tecals per hundred viss. 1829 Crawfurd Jrnl. Emb. to Crt. of Ava (1834) II. 203 The King [of Burma] lays claim to all [stones] that exceed in value a viss of silver, or one hundred ticals. 1876 J. Anderson Mandalay to Momien 336 In 1872, no less than one hundred and fifty thousand viss of royal cotton were stored at Manwyne. |
▪ II. viss
southern ME. var. fish; obs. Sc. f. wish v.