sycee

[ sahy-see ]

noun

1. fine uncoined silver in lumps of various sizes usually bearing a banker's or assayer's stamp or mark, formerly used in China as a medium of exchange.

sycee

/ saɪˈsiː /

noun

1. silver ingots formerly used as a medium of exchange in China

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycee¹

1705–15; < Chinese dial. (Guangdong) sai-sì, akin to Chinese xìsī silk floss; so called because it can be made into wire as fine as silk thread

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycee¹

C18: from Chinese saì sz fine silk; so called because the silver can be made into threads as fine as silk

Example Sentences

One sunny morn a Mr. Chuang Was strolling leisurely along; Viewing the budding flowers and trees— Sniffing the fragrance-laden breeze— Staring at those who hurried by, Each loaded with a good supply Of imitation sycee shoes, To burn—for friends defunct to use— Of dainty viands, oil, and rice, And wine to pour in sacrifice, On tombs of friends who 'neath them slept.

From Project Gutenberg

The next minute he had gone, taken a horse from a sycee, and in spite of the heat, cantered off to meet the party with the elephant, the air being that clear that I could see him go right up, turn his horse round, and ride gently back by the elephant’s side.

From Project Gutenberg

And whenever Hersey needs an idea and can't find one�it happens all the time�he uses a big word instead: cangue, coffle, fulvous, hame, jingal, liripipe, m�tayer, panyar, purlin, psora, shroff, sycee.*

From Time Magazine Archive

Accordingly the Emperor, in pursuance of several memorials on the subject, forbad the export of sycee, at the same time that he took more energetic measures to put a stop to the traffic which was chiefly responsible for this loss of bullion.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next page we are shown the mode in which banking was carried on in country towns by persons who had the daughters of lords visiting them—who have gone abroad for their health, and left then such uncountable heaps of sycee silver.

From Project Gutenberg