Avoirdupois

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to Avoirdupois: Avoirdupois system, avoirdupois ounce

Avoirdupois

A system of measuring weight in which the basic unit is one pound, which is divided into 16 ounces. It is used in the United States, and to a lesser extent in the United Kingdom, Canada, and some former British colonies. Because it is not based on units of 10, it is not used in scientific settings.

References in periodicals archive ?

108 x 7000 Bruges wool wt; later the avoirdupois lb.

The evolution of weighing

A complete line of metric and avoirdupois precision weights that are calibrated and manufactured by the company is offered.

Rice Lake Weighing Systems: stainless steel weights. (2002 Readers' Choice Awards)

Of course, like with any bountiful buffet, one has to have some restraint, or even with sushi and the like one's avoirdupois can increase rapidly.

SWEET DEALS AT SUSHI FACTORY

Shedd took an unabashedly guilt-based approach, confronting overweight readers with statements such as 'When God first dreamed you into creation, there weren't one hundred pounds of excess avoirdupois hanging around your belt" and "We fatties are the only people on earth who can weigh our sins.

Christian diets point to getting 'slim for Him,' the weigh down workshop Inc

If you're not, regardless of whether the avoirdupois is you or your bags, you pay more.

Snippets

During the Middle Ages it seems we measured grain in bushels and a bushel, when full of wheat, was reckoned to weigh 64 tower pounds or 56 avoirdupois pounds.