poundage

¹ American  

[poun-dij] / ˈpaʊn dɪdʒ /

noun

1. a tax, commission, rate, etc., of so much per pound sterling or per pound weight.

2. weight in pounds.

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poundage ² American  

[poun-dij] / ˈpaʊn dɪdʒ /

noun

1. confinement within an enclosure or within certain limits.

2. the fee demanded to free animals from a pound.

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poundage ¹ British  

/ ˈpaʊndɪdʒ /

noun

1. a tax, charge, or other payment of so much per pound of weight

2. a tax, charge, or other payment of so much per pound sterling

3. a weight expressed in pounds

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poundage ² British  

/ ˈpaʊndɪdʒ /

noun

1. agriculture

   1. confinement of livestock within a pound

   2. the fee required for freeing a head of livestock from a pound

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Etymology

Origin of poundage¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at pound ², -age

Origin of poundage²

First recorded in 1545–55; pound ³ + -age

Example Sentences

Are these kings’ squabbles with the British Parliament over “tonnage and poundage duties” especially germane to the meaning of the U.S.

From Slate • May 16, 2024

Each piece of royal hardware presented to him during his installation — orb, bejeweled sword, robes upon robes — seemed to add psychic poundage.

From New York Times • May 6, 2023

In the nearly six decades since, a significant poundage of our cranial tissue has been pretty much retired from active duty.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2023

“Me, I’m the strong guy,” Gude said laughing, noting that her body weight was just twice the poundage of the gear and chainsaw she was carrying.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2020

Of course, Ben thought, Red has ten or twenty of his buddies surrounding him which gives the battle of poundage back to Red by several thousand pounds.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• burden
• density
• gravity
• heft
• load
• pressure
• substance