(Pers. pout ghod, or boot khoda, house of an idol, or abode of God), is the name ordinarily applied by Europeans to eastern temples dedicated to the worship of idols. The pagodas of Hindustan and China usually consist of three subdivisions,—viz., a porch, a vestibule for the priests, and an inner sanctuary, where the principal idol (often called pagoda) is placed. Many of the Chinese temples, or teus, as they call them, are lofty, storeyed towers, gradually diminishing in height and width as they approach the summit, each storey ornamented by a projecting roof of glazed tiles, with bells suspended from the eaves. The tea or pagoda of Nanking, the most famous of the Chinese structures, will be found described under NANKING. The pagodas of Benares, Siam, Pegu, and Orissa are well known. (See JUGGERNAUT, and Architecture, § On Indian Structures.)

The term pagoda is also applied to a gold or silver coin current in Hindustan, value from 8s. to 9s., and probably deriving its name from the images of the gods originally stamped upon it.