avoirdupois
Americannoun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Formerly the pint used in the compounding of medicines, chemicals, &c. consisted of sixteen fluid ounces, weighing one pound Avoirdupois weight.
From Notes and Queries, Number 206, October 8, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George
"I suppose this is all an alluvial soil, Brother Avoirdupois," said Dr. Hawkes, as the ship was passing a rice-field.
From Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics by Shute, A. B.
Avoirdupois Weight.--6 drams make 1 ounce, 16 ounces make 1 pound, 25 pounds make 1 quarter, 4 quarters make 1 hundredweight, 2,000 pounds make 1 ton.
From The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing A Manual of Ready Reference by Triemens, Joseph
An inferiour kind of maccaroni, such as is commonly sold at Naples to the Poor, costs not more than two pence sterling the pound Avoirdupois.
From Essays; Political, Economical, and Philosophical — Volume 1 by Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von
Avoirdupois is sixteen ounces to a pound, 6960 grains.
From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07 Historical and Political Tracts-Irish by Scott, Temple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
