Why is the pound (weight) abbreviation lb.?

Question

Why is the pound (weight) abbreviation lb.?

Answer 1

It goes back to the old roman standard of Libra that was the closest thing to a pound.

Answer 2

The Latin word libra describes a Roman unit of weight similar to a pound, and the abbreviations “lb” or “℔” for the unit of weight and the signs £ and ₤ (crossed-out Ls) for the currency derived from this. The word “pound” comes from the Latin pendere, “to weigh”; Latin libra means “scales, balances.” Great question hope this helps

Answer 3

The Latin word libra describes a Roman unit of weight similar to a pound, and the abbreviations “lb” or “℔” for the unit of weight and the signs £ and ₤ (crossed-out Ls) for the currency derived from this. The word “pound” comes from the Latin pendere, “to weigh”; Latin libra means “scales, balances.”

Answer 4

International pound, abbreviation "lb" or sometimes # in the United States, is THE MASS UNIT DEFINED as exactly 0.45359237 kilogram (or 453.59237 grams). This definition has been in effect since a 1959 agreement among the national standards laboratories of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.* It is part of the avoirdupois system of mass units.

* Federal Register notice of July 1, 1959, "Refinement of values for the yard and the pound"

Answer 5

The origin is in the Latin word libra, which could mean both balance scales (hence the symbol for the astrological sign Libra, which was named after a constellation that was thought to resemble scales) and also a pound weight, for which the full expression was libra pondo, the second word being the origin of our pound.

Answer 6

The origin is in the Latin word libra, which could mean both balance scales and also a pound weight, for which the full expression was libra pondo, the second word being the origin of our pound.

Answer 7

It comes from the Latin libra - a libra was a weight in Rome, roughly equivalent to a pound. As you probably know, the symbol for the astrological sign Libra is the scales.

Answer 8

It comes from the latin word Libra which was a Roman weight that was similar to a pound.

Answer 9

abbreviated from the Latin libra (meaning “scales, balances.”)

Answer 10

It's from the latin word libra