Taotai

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Taotai \Tao`tai"\, n. [Chin. tao circuit + t'ai, a title of
     respect.]
     In China, an official at the head of the civil and military
     affairs of a circuit, which consists of two or more fu, or
     territorial departments; -- called also, by foreigners,
     {intendant of circuit}. Foreign consuls and commissioners


     associated with taotais as superintendants of trade at the
     treaty ports are ranked with the taotai.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]