pagoda

n. [ Pg. pagoda, pagode, fr. Hind. & Per. but-kadah a house of idols, or abode of God; Per. but an idol + kadah a house, a temple. ] 1. A term by which Europeans designate religious temples and tower-like buildings of the Hindoos and Buddhists of India, Farther India, China, and Japan, -- usually but not always, devoted to idol worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An idol. [ R. ] Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Prob. so named from the image of a pagoda or a deity (cf. Skr. bhagavat holy, divine) stamped on it. ] A gold or silver coin, of various kinds and values, formerly current in India. The Madras gold pagoda was worth about three and a half rupees. [ 1913 Webster ]