avoirdupois

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avoirdupois

, avoirdupois weight
a system of weights used in many English-speaking countries. It is based on the pound, which contains 16 ounces or 7000 grains. 100 pounds (US) or 112 pounds (Brit) is equal to 1 hundredweight and 20 hundredweights equals 1 ton
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
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In 1582 Elizabeth 1 established the avoirdupois system to replace the existing weight systems (i.e., the haverdepoise, avoir-du-pois, and hanseatic merchants' weight systems).
MEASURES IN MEDIEVAL ENGLISH RECIPES --CULINARY VS. MEDICAL
Our grain derives from the French avoirdupois system that evolved as a means to help regulate the products sold in trade.
GRAIN AND GRAIN! What Is Grain?
The Avoirdupois system is also of the fourteenth century although its pound of 7000 oz.
The evolution of weighing

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