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Etymology edit

16th century, from hundred +‎ weight.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

hundredweight (plural hundredweight or hundredweights)

  1. A measure of weight containing a hundred pounds, variously understood as
    1. (Canada, US) A unit of measurement containing 100 avoirdupois pounds (about 45.4 kg).
    2. (UK, chiefly historical) A unit of measurement containing 112 avoirdupois pounds (eight stone or about 50.8 kg).
      • 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, volume IV, page 209:
        The hundredweight of 112 avoirdupois lbs. becomes general in the period before me, and is employed for the commoner kinds of materials.
    3. (historical) Synonym of quintal, a unit of measurement containing various amounts depending on the objects weighed.
    4. (historical) Various units of ancient measurement systems consisting of 100 units usually translated as "pounds".

Usage notes edit

The long hundredweight has fallen out of general use since the metrication of Britain and the Commonwealth; the short hundredweight is still in common use in the United States for the sale of livestock, some forms of grain and oilseeds, paper, concrete additives, and some other commodities.

Synonyms edit

Descendants edit

  • Middle Bengali: *হন্দর্দ (*hondord)

Translations edit

See also edit