Definition:Avoirdupois/Pound
Definition
The pound is an avoirdupois unit of mass.
It is defined as being exactly $453 \cdotp 59237$ grams.
Conversion Factors
| \(\ds \) | \(\) | \(\ds 1\) | pound avoirdupois | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 16\) | ounces avoirdupois | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 7 \, 000\) | grains | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 453 \cdotp 59237\) | grams | \(\quad\) (exact) | ||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 0 \cdotp 45359237\) | kilograms | \(\quad\) (exact) |
Symbol
- $\mathrm {lb}$
The symbol for the pound is $\mathrm {lb}$.
Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mathrm {lb} .
This derives from the libra (Roman pound) from which the pound evolved.
It always needs to be distinguished from the pound sterling, whose symbol is $\pounds$.
Also see
Historical Note
The pound avoirdupois was formerly defined in terms of a platinum standard of mass.
It was redefined by the UK Weights and Measures Act of $1963$ in terms of the kilogram.
Linguistic Note on Avoirdupois
The word avoirdupois derives from the Norman French word whose literal translation is goods (that is property, or things owned) of weight.
The avoir part also means to have in modern French, and derives from the Latin habere.
It is pronounced something like av-wah-doo-pwah, although Francophones will be aware that there are further subtleties to this.
Sources
- 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.3$ British and other units
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): pound
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): pound