sycee en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈsaɪsiː/ (US)
- /sʌɪˈsiː/ (UK)
- /saɪˈsiː/ (US)
Etymology
From Cantonese 細絲 /细丝 (sai³ si¹, “fine silk”), variously explained as owing to the bullion's ability to be worked into fine strands or from the resemblance of its luster.
Meanings
- (countable, historical, uncountable) Any of various gold or silver ingots used as currency in imperial China.
- (uncountable) Imitation ingots made of paper, burnt as an offering in ancestral veneration on Tomb Sweeping Day or during the Ghost Festival.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sycees | Number=Plur | lexicographic |