Whenreading through a recipe, we’ve all gotten used to seeing teaspoons abbreviated as tsp.
and pint is pt., but have you ever wondered how the word pound was abbreviated as lb.?
It’s an odd choice since they don’t have any letters in common.
Credit: SharonWills/Getty Images
Or, what about ounces shortened to oz.?
Where did that stray “z” come from?
To find out, it requires a trip through English language history.
The English word pound draws from the “pondo"part of the phrase.However, the abbreviation lb.
is derived from “libra.”
That’s not the only form of currency to take its name from the old measurement.
The former Italian currency, the lira, was also derived from libra.
That’s because the sign is associated with balance and is related to weights and measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pounds (lb.)
are a part of theimperial measurement system.
The metric system equivalent is kilograms1 kilogram is equal to about 2.2 pounds.
The abbreviation for one pound is lb., but the plural is also lb.
Generally, abbreviated measurements do not contain a plural, but some guidelines accept the abbreviation of lbs.
Lowther E.A short history of the pound.BBC News.
Published February 14, 2014.
