pennyweight

[ pen-ee-weyt ]

noun

1. (in troy weight) a unit of 24 grains or 1/20 of an ounce (1.56 grams). : dwt, pwt

pennyweight

/ ˈpɛnɪˌweɪt /

noun

1. a unit of weight equal to 24 grains or one twentieth of an ounce (Troy)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pennyweight¹

1350–1400; Middle English penyweight, Old English penega gewihte. See penny, weight

Example Sentences

Forty thousand ounces of gold, mates, not a pennyweight less?'

From Project Gutenberg

A pennyweight, according to the old saying, is enough; for being thus used it bringeth two commodities.

From Project Gutenberg

Their minds, their wills, their efforts, their physical strength to the last ounce and pennyweight belonged indissolubly to him.

From Project Gutenberg

Scatter a pennyweight of it upon my tombstone; and so lay my in-fi-ni-te-si-mal ap-pa-ri-ti-on!

From Project Gutenberg

Equilibrium, however, was restored by the addition of a pennyweight and five grains to the opposite side.

From Project Gutenberg