rupee

Etymology

(reigned 1540–1545), from which the word rupee is derived]] From Hindustani روپیہ (ropeh) / रुपीया (rupīyā), variant of रुपया / رُوپیہ (rūpaya, “rupee”), from Sanskrit रूप्यक (rūpyaka, “silver coin”), from रूप्य (rūpya, “wrought gold or silver; stamped coin; beautiful, well-shaped; impressed, stamped”). Coined by the Sultan of the Suri Empire Sher Shah Suri (reigned 1540–1545).

noun

1. The common name for the monetary currencies used in modern India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles, or Sri Lanka, often abbreviated ₨.
   In fact, the visible appearance of the iron is a symbol; it is not what it ultimately is. To take an analogy we are given a ten-rupee note. He knows it truly who at sight recognizes the piece of paper as a symbol of unity that represents ten separate silver coins. 1937, Rabindranath Tagore, “Lecture II: Supreme Man”, in Man: Lectures Delivered at the Andhra University under the Terms of the Sir Alladi Krishnaswamy Endowment (Andhra University Series; no. 16), Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh: Kitabistan, published 1946, →OCLC, pages 37–38
   In the fifth and sixth [standard] I obtained scholarships of rupees four and ten respectively, an achievement for which I have to thank good luck more than my merit. 1948, Mohandas K[aramchand] Gandhi, “At the High School”, in Mahadev Desai, transl., Gandhi’s Autobiography, or, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Washington, D.C.: Public Affairs Press, →OCLC; reprinted as An Autobiography; or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, New York, N.Y.: Dover Publications, 2007, page 12
   There are no precise estimates available about the capital requirements of agricultural and rural development in India. But the amount required is in hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees. 1999, Katar Singh, “Financing Rural Development”, in Rural Development: Principles, Policies and Management, 2nd edition, New Delhi: SAGE Publications, published 2005, page 290
   The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the global recession. 2013, “Strategic and Development Profiles”, in Seychelles Business Law Handbook, volumes 1 (Strategic Information and Basic Laws), Washington, D.C.: International Business Publications, page 15
2. (historical) A silver coin circulating in India between the 16th and 20th centuries, weighing one tola (formerly 170–180 troy grains; from 1833, 180 troy grains).
   The only Evidence that was produced by the [East India] Company, was, a letter from Samuel Annesley, at Surrat, dated the 16th January 1694; wherein he gives this Account: Rupees. 655,000. Sent home as Cargo in the Ships Defence and Resolution. 17 March 1695, “East India Stock and Debts [marginal note]”, in Journals of the House of Commons. From November the 7th 1693, in the Fifth Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, to November the 3rd 1697, in the Ninth Year of the Reign of King William the Third, London: Re-printed by Order of the House of Commons, published 1803, →OCLC, page 519, column 2
   The roupie, as the French write it, roupee, or rupee, as it is ſpelt in our authors, is a ſilver coin, ſomething broader than one of our ſhillings, and much thicker; in point of fineneſs, it is better than the Engliſh ſtandard; for its weight is 7 dwt. 11 gr. which, reduced to our ſtandard, would be 7 dwt. 13 mt. ²⁄₂²⁄₆¹⁄₆³⁄₄. 1759, George Sale et al., “Sect. IX. An Historical Account of the French Commerce at Mocha, Bassora, Surat, on the Coast of Malabar and Coromandel;[…]”, in The Modern Part of An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time. Compiled from Original Writers, volume XI, London: Printed for S[amuel] Richardson [et al.], →OCLC, footnote H, page 181
   How much do you pay for a wife? Nine rupees and a half. / Why don't you give ten? It is not our custom. / Do you ever pay a smaller sum for a wife than nine rupees and a half? Sometimes, we conclude the bargain for eight rupees. 17 April 1841, John Wilson, “Art. III.—Account of the Wáralís and Kátodís,—Two of the Forest Tribes of the Northern Konkan”, in The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, volume VII, London: John W[illiam] Parker, West Strand, →OCLC, page 19
3. (video games) The primary currency of Hyrule.