Indian coin, 1610s, from Hindi or Urdu rupiyah, from Sanskrit rupyah "wrought silver," perhaps originally "something provided with an image, a coin," from rupah "shape, likeness, image."
monetary unit of Muslim India from the 16th century and the modern monetary unit of India and Pakistan. The modern unit is divided into 100 paisa in India and Pakistan. The name derives from the Sanskrit rupya ("silver"). The rupee is also the name of the monetary unit used in Mauritius, Nepal, and Seychelles.