avoirdupois weight

American  

noun

1. a system of weight measurement based on a pound of 16 ounces or 7,000 grains, in wide use in English-speaking countries; the system is used for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs: 27 11/32 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. av.; avdp.; avoir.

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avoirdupois weight Scientific  

/ ăv′ər-də-poiz′ /

1. A system of weights and measures based on a pound containing 16 ounces or 7,000 grains, and equal to 453.59 grams. Avoirdupois weight is used in the United States to weigh everything except gems, precious metals, and drugs.

2. Compare troy weight

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Etymology

Origin of avoirdupois weight

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

Of lemon-thyme,Winter savoury,Sweet marjoram,Sweet basil,—half an ounce of each.Lemon-peel grated, two drachms.Eschalots, the same.Celery-seed, a drachm, avoirdupois weight.

From The Cook's Oracle; and Housekeeper's Manual by Kitchiner, William

A gallon contains 8.33 pounds avoirdupois weight of distilled water.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough

The following tabular statement exhibits the actual avoirdupois weight of our equipments—a fair average being taken, some being more and some less than the estimate.   lb. oz.

From Our campaign around Gettysburg Being a memorial of what was endured, suffered and accomplished by the Twenty-third regiment (N. Y. S. N. G.) and other regiments associated with them, in their Pennsylvania and Maryland campaign, during the second rebel invasion of the loyal states in June-July, 1863 by Lockwood, John

I was dumb with astonishment and the mud, having swallowed eighteen ounces avoirdupois weight of the sacred soil of Mississippi while endeavoring to express my admiration of the performance of the mule.

From Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive by Burnett, Alf

The introduction either of the troy or avoirdupois weight into the definition of our unit, will throw that unit under the uncertainties now enveloping the troy and avoirdupois weights.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson