Meaning

noun the basic unit of money in Sri Lanka; equal to 100 cents

noun the basic unit of money in Seychelles; equal to 100 cents

noun the basic unit of money in Nepal; equal to 100 paisa

originCoined by Sher Shah Suri, the Sultan of the Suri Empire 1540–1545 as Hindustani रुपीया / رُوپِییَہ (rūpīya), variant of रुपया / رُوپَیَہ (rūpaya, “rupee”), from Sanskrit रूप्यक (rūpyaka, “silver coin”), from रूप्य (rūpya, “wrought gold or silver; stamped coin; beautiful, well-shaped; impressed, stamped”). Doublet of rufiyaa and rupiah.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0