arroba

American  

[uh-roh-buh, ahr-raw-bah] / əˈroʊ bə, ɑrˈrɔ βɑ /

noun

plural

arrobas

1. a symbol (@) that is used to link a username to a domain name, used at the beginning of Twitter handles, and in other identifying designations on the internet in Spanish-speaking countries.

2. a Spanish and Portuguese unit of weight of varying value, equal to 25.37 pounds avoirdupois (9.5 kilograms) in Mexico and to 32.38 pounds avoirdupois (12 kilograms) in Brazil.

3. a unit of liquid measure of varying value, used especially in Spain and commonly equal (when used for wine) to 4.26 U.S. gallons (16.1 liters).

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arroba British  

/ əˈrəʊbə /

noun

1. a unit of weight, approximately equal to 11 kilograms, used in some Spanish-speaking countries

2. a unit of weight, approximately equal to 15 kilograms, used in some Portuguese-speaking countries

3. a liquid measure used in some Spanish-speaking countries with different values, but in Spain used as a wine-measure, approximately equal to 16 litres

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Etymology

Origin of arroba

First recorded in 1550–1560; from Spanish, Portuguese, from Arabic al rubʿ “the fourth part, a quarter (of the qintār), from Common Semitic arbaʿ “four”; see quintal

Example Sentences

Don Juan de Silva sent patterns of all the nails, and excellently made ones were brought, and cost your Majesty but eight reals per arroba.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 18 of 55 1617-1620 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century by Robertson, James Alexander

White sugar was then worth thirty-two reals per arroba, brown sugar twenty-eight.

From The History of Cuba, vol. 2 by Johnson, Willis Fletcher

Nails, to two inches 40 " " Padlocks, brass 250 " "     "          iron 180 " " Pearl Barley 400 " arroba.

From The Andes and the Amazon Across the Continent of South America by Orton, James

A strong man will carry an arroba and a half daily for a distance of six leagues for a whole week.

From The Former Philippines thru Foreign Eyes by Craig, Austin

The pearl shells are sent to China, and are worth, at La Paz, one dollar and a half the arroba, or twenty-five pounds.

From What I Saw in California by Bryant, Edwin