Also souan-, shwan-, swam-, suan-. [Chinese, lit. reckoning board.] The Chinese abacus.
1736. trans. Du Halde’s Hist. China, III. 70. In casting up Accounts they [sc. the Chinese] make use of an Instrument called Souan pan.
1748. Gentl. Mag., July, 295/2. I desire to give the public a Swan Pan that in my opinion is much preferable to that of the Chinese.
1833. Penny Cycl., I. 7/1. This instrument, called in Chinese Shwanpan.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 526/1. The swan-pan, still in constant use among the Chinese.
