anna
Noun: 1. A former copper coin of Pakistan and India: An "anna" was a unit of currency historically used in British India and later in the independent nations of India and Pakistan. It was a subdivision of the rupee.
The word "anna" is used as a countable noun to refer to this specific historical coin. It is typically used in historical, economic, or numismatic (coin-collecting) contexts. * In pre-decimal India, sixteen annas made one rupee. * The old coin collection included several British Indian annas. * Goods were once priced in annas and pies.
- Symbolic Use: The term can be used symbolically to refer to a very small amount of money or something of little value, due to its status as a low-denomination coin.
- He wouldn't give an anna for that old story. (He considers it worthless.)
- In Idioms (Indian English): While not a phrasal verb, the word appears in historical Indian English phrases.
- "Anna-anna bhar ke" (a Hindi-Urdu phrase meaning meticulously, penny for penny).
- Anna Series: Refers to a series of postage stamps issued by India in the early independence period, denominated in annas.
- Paisa: A later and current subunit of the rupee (100 paise = 1 rupee), which replaced the anna system.
- Rupee: The primary currency unit of which the anna was a part.
- Coin: A general term.
- Subunit: A general term for a fractional monetary unit.
The word "anna" has only one primary meaning in modern English: the historical coin. It is not to be confused with the female given name "Anna." Its usage is almost entirely historical since the coin was demonetized after decimalization (India in 1957, Pakistan in 1961).
- a former copper coin of Pakistan and India