1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Avoirdupois
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AVOIRDUPOIS, or Averdupois (from the French avoir de pois, goods of weight), the name of a system of weights used in Great Britain and America for all commodities except the precious metals, gems and medicines. The foundation of the system is the grain. A cubic inch of water weighs 252.458 grains. Of this grain 7000 now (see Weights and Measures) make a pound avoirdupois. This pound is divided into 16 oz., and these ounces into 16 drachms.
Avoirdupois Weight.
|
Drachm, |
16=ounce, |
16=pound, |
14=stone, |
2=quarter, |
4=hundred, |
20=ton. |
|
27.3 grains |
437.5 |
7000 |
98,000 |
196,000 grs. |
112 lb |
2240 lb. |