Link Centre Dictionary

avoirdupois

avoir·du·pois

UK/ˌævədəˈpɔɪz/ US/ˌævwɑːdjuːˈpwɑː/ uncommon obsolete

noun

1.

a system of weights based on the 16-ounce pound (or 7,000 grains)

Synonyms
2.

excess bodily weight

  • “she found fatness disgusting in herself as well as in others”
Synonyms
Antonyms

Origin

From Middle English avoir de pois, aver de peis, haburdy poyse, haburdepays, haburdepeyse, from Old French aveir + de + peis (“asset of weight”), influenced by Middle French avoir + du + pois; compare French poids (“weight”).

Phrases

  • avoirdupois ounce
  • avoirdupois pound
  • troy weight

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.