[1670.—"The neighbourhood of Delhi produces Anil or Indigo."—Bernier (ed. Constable), 283.]
ANNA, s. Properly H. āna, ānah, the 16th part of a rupee. The term belongs to the Mohammedan monetary system ([RUPEE]). There is no coin of one anna only, so that it is a money of account only. The term anna is used in denoting a corresponding fraction of any kind of property, and especially in regard to coparcenary shares in land, or shares in a speculation. Thus a one-anna share is 1⁄16 of such right, or a share of 1⁄16 in the speculation; a four-anna is ¼, and so on. In some parts of India the term is used as subdivision (1⁄16) of the current land measure. Thus, in Saugor, the anna = 16 rūsīs, and is itself 1⁄16 of a kancha (Elliot, Gloss. s.v.). The term is also sometimes applied colloquially to persons of mixt parentage. 'Such a one has at least 2 annas of dark blood,' or 'coffee-colour.' This may be compared with the Scotch expression that a person of deficient intellect 'wants twopence in the shilling.'
1708.—"Provided ... that a debt due from Sir Edward Littleton ... of 80,407 Rupees and Eight Annas Money of Bengal, with Interest and Damages to the said English Company shall still remain to them...."—Earl of Godolphin's Award between the Old and the New E. I. Co., in Charters, &c., p. 358.
1727.—"The current money in Surat:
Bitter Almonds go 32 to a Pice:
1 Annoe is 4 Pice.
1 Rupee 16 Annoes.
* * * * *
In Bengal their Accounts are kept in Pice:
12 to an Annoe.