avoirdupois

American  

[av-er-duh-poiz] / ˌæv ər dəˈpɔɪz /

noun

1. avoirdupois weight.

2. Informal. body weight.

   He carries around a lot of excess avoirdupois.

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avoirdupois British  

/ ˌævwɑːdjuːˈpwɑː, ˌævədəˈpɔɪz /

noun

1. Abbreviation: avdp.   avoir.  a system of weights used in many English-speaking countries. It is based on the pound, which contains 16 ounces or 7000 grains. 100 pounds (US) or 112 pounds (Brit) is equal to 1 hundredweight and 20 hundredweights equals 1 ton

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Etymology

Origin of avoirdupois

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English avoir de pois literally, “goods of weight, property of weight,” from Old French aver “goods, property,” equivalent to avoir (earlier aveir, from Latin habēre “to have”) + de “of” (from Latin dē ) + pois (earlier peis, from Latin pēnsum “something weighed, weight,” from pendere “to weigh, weigh out”)

Explanation

Avoirdupois is a system of measuring weight based on the fact that sixteen ounces are in a pound. The metric system is based on grams, and the avoirdupois system is based on pounds. This odd-looking term means something very common, at least if you live in England or the United States: the avoirdupois system is a standard for measuring weight based on there being sixteen ounces in a pound. If you measure your weight in pounds, you're using the avoirdupois system. If you measure liquids in ounces, you're using the avoirdupois system. This is one of many standards of measurement that exist, such as the metric system, which is based on units of 10.

Example Sentences

Insofar as the notion of the American avoirdupois pound has any official meaning, it is by relation to the kilogram, of which, by law, it is 0.45359237.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 15, 2018

They were neck and neck for the first 200 feet, The Post reported, “but then Kennard’s avoirdupois began to tell on his speed, and the one-legged man took the lead.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 20, 2015

Even the obesity rate ballooned to 31.5 percent, putting Michigan among the five fattest states, in the same league of avoirdupois as Alabama and West Virginia.

From Salon • May 12, 2013

Thus, in vocation and avoirdupois, he suggests a being from another planet in the Fox universe.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2012

No doubt about that, but Jerry can walk; it will help to rob him of a little of his avoirdupois.

From Cynthia Wakeham's Money by Green, Anna Katharine