poundal

[ poun-dl ]

/ ˈpaʊn dl /

noun Physics.

the foot-pound-second unit of force, equal to the force that produces an acceleration of one foot per second per second on a mass of one pound. Abbreviation: pdl

Nearby words

pound sterling, pound the pavement, pound-foot, pound-force, poundage, poundal, pounder, poupart's ligament, poupart's line, pour, pour cold water on

Origin of poundal

First recorded in 1875–80; pound² + -al²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for poundal

poundal

/ (ˈpaʊndəl) /

noun

the fps unit of force; the force that imparts an acceleration of 1 foot per second per second to a mass of 1 pound. 1 poundal is equivalent to 0.1382 newton or 1.382 × 10 4 dynesAbbreviation: pdl

Word Origin for poundal

C19: from pound ² + quintal

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