‖ rotl
(ˈrɒt(ə)l)
Forms: 7 rethel, rotte (? rotle), rotal, 9 rotol, rottle, rattle, rutl, rotl.
[a. Arab. reṭl, raṭl, which is supposed by some to be an alteration of Gr. λίτρα.]
An eastern weight, varying in different places and for different commodities, but usually something between one and five pounds. Cf. rotolo.
| 1615 W. Bedwell Arab. Trudgman s.v., An hundred Rethels do make a Cantar. 1685 Pococke Comm. Hosea iii. 2 It contained the weight of seventy-two thousand drachms, that is, five hundred common rotals. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 262 The Quintal contains 150 Rottes, the Rotte 12 ounces. 1825 Milburn's Oriental Commerce I. 88 [At Judda] 15 Vakias make 1 Rattle; 2 Rattles 1 maund. 1826–7 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XVIII. 438/2 The Greek rotl = 180 dirhems is used in weighing cotton thread; the common rotl = 144 dirhems. 1836 Lane Mod. Egypt. II. 8 The rutl is about 153/4 oz. |