avoirdupois weight

avoirdupois weight
the system of weights in British and U.S. use for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs: 2711/32 grains = 1 dram; 16 drams = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 112 pounds (Brit.) or 100 pounds (U.S.) = 1 hundredweight; 20 hundredweight = 1 ton. The pound contains 7000 grains. Abbr.: av.; avdp.; avoir.
[1610-20]

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      traditional system of weight in the British Imperial System and the United States Customary System of weights and measures. The name derives ultimately from French avoir de pois (“goods of weight” or “property”). The avoirdupois pound contains 7,000 grains (grain), or 256 drams (dram) of 27.344 grains each, or 16 ounces of 437 1/2 grains each. It is used for all products not subject to apothecaries' weight (for pharmaceutical items) or troy weight (for precious metals). It is equal to about 1.22 apothecaries' or troy pounds. Since 1959 the avoirdupois pound has been officially defined in most English-speaking countries as 0.45359237 kg.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Avoirdupois weight — Avoirdupois Av oir*du*pois ([a^]v [ e]r*d[ u]*poiz ), n. & a. [OE. aver de peis, goods of weight, where peis is fr. OF. peis weight, F. poids, L. pensum. See {Aver}, n., and {Poise}, n.] 1. Goods sold by weight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avoirdupois weight — n a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces and an ounce of 437.5 grains (28.350 grams) and in general use in the U.S. except for precious metals, gems, and drugs * * * the system of weight commonly used for ordinary commodities in… …   Medical dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — avoirdupois′ weight n. wam the system of weights, based on the pound of 16 ounces, used in Great Britain and the U.S. for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs Abbr.: av. 3) avdp. avoir …   From formal English to slang

  • avoirdupois weight — n. a British and American system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces: see the table of weights and measures in the Reference Supplement …   English World dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — noun a system of weights based on the 16 ounce pound (or 7,000 grains) • Syn: ↑avoirdupois • Hypernyms: ↑system of weights, ↑weight • Part Meronyms: ↑avoirdupois unit * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — noun Date: 1619 the series of units of weight based on the pound of 16 ounces and the ounce of 16 drams see weight table …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — A measure characterized by a sixteen ounce pound, as distinguished from troy weight of twelve ounces to the pound …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — system of weights used in Britain and the United States based on the 16 ounce pound (used to measure certain goods) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — /ˌævwadjupwa ˈweɪt/ (say .avwahdyoohpwah wayt) noun a system of weights formerly used in most English speaking countries for goods other than gems, precious metals and drugs. 27.34 grains = 1 dram; 16 drams = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 112… …  

  • Avoirdupois — Av oir*du*pois ([a^]v [ e]r*d[ u]*poiz ), n. & a. [OE. aver de peis, goods of weight, where peis is fr. OF. peis weight, F. poids, L. pensum. See {Aver}, n., and {Poise}, n.] 1. Goods sold by weight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Avoirdupois weight.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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