mithqal

English

Alternative forms

• metical, metikal, miscal, miskal, mithkal, mithqaal, mitkal, mitqal

Etymology

From Persian or Urdu مثقال (mesqâl), and their source, Arabic مِثْقَال (miṯqāl, “weight, unit of weight”), from ثَقَلَ (ṯaqala, “to weigh”). Doublet of metical

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪθˈkɑːl/

Noun

mithqal (plural mithqals)

1. A unit of weight in the Islamic world, usually taken as equivalent to 4.25 grams, used especially to weigh precious metals.
   • 1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Night 13”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:

     The Wazir brought him and the King said, "Give him a thousand miskals of gold from the treasury, and load him ten camels with goods for trade, and send him under escort to his own town."

2. A coin originally having such a weight.