avoirdupois
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- averdupois (obsolete)
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English avoir de pois, aver de peis, haburdy poyse, haburdepays, haburdepeyse, from Old French aveir + de + peis (“asset of weight”), influenced by Middle French avoir + du + pois; compare French poids (“weight”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
avoirdupois (uncountable)
- (historical) The official system of weights used in the UK between 1856 and 1963. It had been the customary system in London since 1300.
- (historical) The official system of weights used in the USA between 1866 and 1959.
- Weight; heaviness (commonly with humorous intent).
- 1915, Jack London, The Little Lady of the Big House[1]:
- It seems humanly reasonable that the three of us can woman-handle a mere man of your elderly and insulting avoirdupois.
- 2012, Frank Lean, Boiling Point[2]:
- The detective sergeant, who was called Munro, more than made up for Cullen's advance in the avoirdupois department. Lean to the point of emaciation, Munro was also a paragon of contemporary fashion. He was clad in a hideous brown suit ...
See also[edit]
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English terms with historical senses
- English terms with quotations
- en:Units of measure