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centner

[sent-ner]
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noun
  1. (in several European countries) a unit of weight of 50 kilograms, equivalent to 110.2 pounds avoirdupois.
  2. a unit of 100 kilograms.
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Origin of centner

1675–85 for sense “hundredweight”; < Low German; compare German Zentner, Old High German centenari < Latin centēnārius of a hundred; see centenary
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for centner

Historical Examples

  • Therefore, less went to the farmers for their wheat per bushel or centner.

    Principles of Political Economy

    Arthur Latham Perry

  • At first sight it might appear from this statement that where Agricola uses the word centumpondium he means the German centner.

    De Re Metallica

    Georgius Agricola

  • Centner, sent′ner, n. a common name on the Continent for a hundredweight.

British Dictionary definitions for centner

centner

noun
  1. Also called (esp US): short hundredweight a unit of weight equivalent to 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms)
  2. (in some European countries) a unit of weight equivalent to 50 kilograms (110.23 pounds)
  3. a unit of weight equivalent to 100 kilograms
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Word Origin

C17: from German Zentner, ultimately from Latin centēnārius of a hundred; see centenary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012