manilla
/məˈnɪlə
/noun
(In West Africa) a metal bracelet traditionally used as a medium of exchange.We know that manillas were first imported into the delta around 1450 A.D....
- The demonetization of cowries or manillas provoked strong protest from people whose savings were in these forms, to such a degree, indeed, that the British were eventually forced to offer conversion facilities.
- The iron manillas were found at a depth of 160 centimeters in association with fragments of an iron chain, while the copper ones were recovered at depths ranging from 120 centimeters up to the surface.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from Spanish, based on Latin manicula (see manacle).