shroff

Definition

A provider of financial services, especially a small-scale independent banker or money changer or (historical) a local expert at detecting bad coin.

Etymology

A British Indian variant of saraf, from Urdu صراف (sarrāf) and Persian صراف (sarâf), from Arabic صَرَّاف (ṣarrāf).

Example Sentences

• "The sheraffs are poore and begerly."
• "Amongſt whom were Shroffs, or Money-changers."
• "The breakfast soon dispatch'd, they're off, To borrow money from a shroff."