hundredweight

[ huhn-drid-weyt ]

noun

, plural hun·dred·weights, (as after a numeral) hun·dred·weight.

1. Also called cental, quintal. a unit of avoirdupois weight commonly equivalent to 100 pounds (45.359 kilograms) in the U.S. : cwt
2. cental ( def 2 ).

hundredweight

/ ˈhʌndrədˌweɪt /

noun

1. Also calledlong hundredweight a unit of weight equal to 112 pounds or 50.802 35 kilograms
2. Also calledshort hundredweight a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds or 45.359 24 kilograms
3. Also calledmetric hundredweight a metric unit of weight equal to 50 kilograms

Word History and Origins

Origin of hundredweight¹

First recorded in 1570–80; hundred + weight

Example Sentences

We found, however, no difficulty in procuring more, some of which weighed four hundredweight.

From Project Gutenberg

Spitzhase felt as if the pipe were about a hundredweight heavier, and that it had grown suddenly stiff.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, full a hundredweight; half the mass was quartz, but four-fifths of the weight they knew must be gold.

From Project Gutenberg

He was powerfully developed physically, and at eighteen could lift ten hundredweight.

From Project Gutenberg

Each chest, therefore, if all contained the same precious metal, would represent the value of sixteen hundredweight of silver.

From Project Gutenberg