shroffage

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete): shraffage, sherofferage

Etymology

From shroff (“to examine coin for debasement etc.”) + -age (“forming nouns regarding a rate or charge”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃɹɒfɪd͡ʒ/

Noun

shroffage (uncountable)

1. (historical) The commission paid to a shroff for examining coins for quality.
   • 1629, cited in William Foster, The English Factories in India, page 354:

     Shraffage is halfe a riall per every thousand rialls.

   • 1766, Thomas Brooks, An Authentick Account of All the Different Coins... by Which Accompts in the East Indies Are Kept, page 49:

     Brokerage 1½ per Cent. Shroffage 1 per Thousand.

References

• “shroffage, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1914.
• “shroffage”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.