masculine · māsaka 1 · māsaka 2
a small coin, (the value of which is about an anna)
Māsaka [from māsa 2 + ka = māsa 3 ] literally a small bean, used as a standard of weight and value; hence a small coin of very low value. Of copper, wood and lac (As 318; cf. Pj I 37; jatu°, dāru°, loha°); the suvaṇṇa° (golden m.) at Ja IV 107 reminds of the "gold" in fairy tales. That its worth is next to nothing is seen from the descending progression of coins at Dhp-a III 108 = Vv-a 77, which, beginning with kahāpaṇa, aḍḍha-pāda, places māsaka and kāhaṇikā next to mudhā "gratis." It only "counts" when it amounts to 5 māsakas. — Vin III 47, 67; IV 226 (pañca°); Ja I 112 (aḍḍha-māsakaṃ na agghati is worth nothing); IV 107; V 135 (first a rain of flowers, then of māsakas, then kahāpaṇas); Dhp-a II 29 (pañca-m.-mattaṃ a sum of 5 m.); Pv-a 282 (m + aḍḍha° halfpennies and farthings, as children's pocket-money).
【陽】 小硬幣（大約相等於一盤米飯的價值）。
(masc, masc, dimin of māsa) coin of low value small coin, (the value of which is about an anna) [lit.] small bean Construction: māsa + ka
(adj, adj, dimin of māsa) with a value of one māsaka [lit.] small bean Construction: māsa + ka