Also 6 fanan, -on, 9 fanom. [Corruption of Malayālam and Tamil paṇam, f. Skr. paṇa wealth.] A small coin, formerly the usual money of account in South India.
No longer used in British India; in some native states gold and silver fanams are still current; in Travancore the former is worth 1/4 and the latter 1/7 of a rupee.
[1510. Varthema, Itin., in Ramusio, Navig. (1588), I. 159 b. Batte anchora moneta d’argento chiamato fanon.]
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 263. This Fanan, is also a kynde of money which is in value, one ryale of syluer.
1704. Collect. Voy. (Church.), III. 822/2. A Fanam is only 5d. tho they have Golden and Silver Fanams.
1792. Garrow, in Phil. Trans., LXXXVIII. 409. The stone is … paid for at the Pollam, in the gold fanam.
1803. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., I. 452. Their pay shall be a gold fanam for every day they do not work, and two gold fanams for every day they do.
1883. S. Mateer, Gospel in S. India, 148. A woman has given 100 fanams to provide two good globe lamps.
