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avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:08 am
by eberntson
Literally goods of weight. Also, a system of weight based on pounds of 16 ounces, and ounces of 18 drams.

I believe the root is Anglo-Saxon.

Found it Edgar Allan Poe's work.

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:58 am
by Philip Hudson
As opposed to troy weight.

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:49 am
by eberntson
Actually, you are correct Phillip, a Troy ounce is 17.554 drams, while a avoirdupois ounce is 16 drams... my mistake. Now it seems a avoirdupois ounce is 7000 grains too. I suppose someone out in the world has made a study and publish the story of weights and measure in a for more interesting then a reference table? Or am I mistaken?

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:19 pm
by Slava
Don't forget that avoirdupois is also often used to mean excess body weight.

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:23 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Can I lose weight if I transfer it into Troy units? I know I seem to weigh all a lot less if I counted in stones.

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 5:30 pm
by Slava
Can I lose weight if I transfer it into Troy units? I know I seem to weigh all a lot less if I counted in stones.
Why not just make up your own system? Call it a "Me" scale. For example, I weigh one Me. :lol:

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:44 am
by Philip Hudson
Slava: There is the ideal "me". It is not the one I see in the mirror or who steps on the bathroom scales. To weigh the ideal "me" would take a lot of work. Do you advocate sticking to the nitty-gritty, actual "me"? That would be quite a relief.

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:53 am
by Slava
Aye, a "Me" should always be real. No matter how much or little there is, you will always weigh 1. :)

Re: avoirdupois

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:10 pm
by gailr
Aye, a "Me" should always be real.
There are me's and me's. (Sorry about that apostrophe -- I'm trying to keep the 'me' intact.)
The Sumerian goddess Innana tricked Enki out of all the arts of Civilization, the ME. This poem is dated to 2000BC, and has a delightful cadence when read aloud:
"O name of my power, O name of my power,
To the bright Inanna, my daughter, I shall present . . .
The arts of woodworking, metalworking, writing, toolmaking, leatherworking, building, basketweaving."

Pure Inanna took them.

These ME have a greater weight than any agoran!