pardao

noun

par·​dao

(ˈ)pär¦dau̇,

pərˈd-

variants or less commonly pardo

plural -s

: a coin of Portuguese India equivalent to a half rupia

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Sanskrit pratāpa splendor, majesty, from pra- before, forward + tapati it heats; from the use of the word pratāpa as an epithet of kings on native coins

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!