pound etymology

Etymology:

The word "pound" comes from the Old English "pund" (or "pundt"), which itself derives from the Latin "pondus," meaning "weight."

Meaning:

In modern English, "pound" primarily refers to two units of measurement:

• Currency: The pound sterling (symbol: £), the currency of the United Kingdom and several other countries.
• Weight: The pound mass (abbreviation: lb), a unit of mass used in the imperial and US customary systems.

Origin:

The concept of a "pound" as a unit of weight emerged in ancient Rome, where it was known as a "libra." The Roman libra was a small balance scale used to weigh goods.

As the Roman Empire spread, the term "libra" was adopted by other cultures, including the Anglo-Saxons. In Old English, "pund" came to denote a unit of weight equal to about 16 ounces.

Over time, the meaning of "pund" evolved to include a unit of currency. In the Middle Ages, a "pound" of silver was a common form of payment. This later became the basis for the pound sterling, which was originally defined as a specific weight of silver.

In the 16th century, the pound sterling was officially adopted as the currency of England. The pound mass, on the other hand, remained in use as a unit of weight alongside the ounce.

pound relate terms

• Libra

  Etymology Latin libra meaning balance or scales Meaning Libra is the seven

• pond

  Etymology The word pond comes from the Middle English word pond which in turn derive

• pound

  Etymology The word pound comes from the Old English pund or pundt which itself

• expense

  Etymology The word expense comes from the Old French word espense which in turn deri

• kettle

  Etymology The word kettle derives from the Old English word cetel which referred to

• pension

  Etymology The word pension originates from the Latin word pensio which means paymen

• ounce

  Etymology The word ounce comes from the Late Latin word uncia which means a twelft

• imagism

  Etymology Origin Latin imago image English ism doctrine Meaning A lite

• piston

  Etymology The word piston is derived from the Greek word piston which means to pou

• logopoeia

  Etymology The word logopoeia is derived from two Greek words logos λόγος m

• flutter

  Etymology The word flutter is derived from the Old English word floteren which mean

• piaster

  Etymology French piastre Italian piastra Latin placenta flat cake Meaning A

• traipse

  Etymology The word traipse stems from the Middle English verb traysen or tresse w