WordCodex

hundredweight

hundredweight - English

Alternative forms

Noun

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 (45.5 kg).
    2. (UK, chiefly historical) A unit of measurement containing 112 avoirdupois pounds (8 st or 51 kg).
    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

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

  • (100 lb. avoirdupois): short hundredweight; centner (rare); cental, quintal (historical)
  • (112 lb. avoirdupois): long hundredweight, imperial hundredweight
  • (historical units): centenary

Descendants

  • → Middle Bengali: *হন্দর্দ (*hondord)

Translations

Meaning and Definition of hundredweight
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