ratal

noun

1. A traditional Maltese unit of weight, officially 1.75 imperial pounds (0.794 kg), now widely metrified informally to mean 800 grammes.

   “The maximum price for locally grown produce was 4 pence a ratal for tomatoes, 6 pence a ratal for onions, 11 pence a ratal for potatoes, and 7 pence a ratal for cabbages.”

2. The amount on which a tax rate is assessed.

   “We have to provide for increased and increasing ratals and assessments.”

   “To encourage United States private investments abroad, the President proposed that incomes from such ventures be taxed at a rate 14 per cent below corporate ratals in the United States […]”

   “The agency executed the leases to the tenants, had repairs made to the building, looked after the tax ratals and appeals, and watched the occupancy and use of the property so that insurance rates would not be affected.”

   “The land tax ratal is obtained by applying the land tax figure to the unit value.”

adj

1. (not-comparable)Pertaining to a rate of taxation.

   “So prominent, however, was now the position of the Local Taxation question, that the new Prime Minister had scarcely assumed office ere he emphatically endorsed the very arguments for reform so long urged by ratal reformers […]”

   “Valuable as much of the matter thus collected undoubtedly proved itself, and great as was the ability and industry which marked the compilation of its exhaustive tables, the effect of this report as designed to meet the complaints against ratal taxation, was scarcely so great as was probably expected.”

   “Nominee managers (gentlemen with a personal ratal qualification over £100) “represented liberality” and were intended to take a “wider view” of the MAB's responsibilities.”