How did "lb" become the abbreviation for pound?

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glenn1

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
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As the title states. Most other English abbreviations are exactly that, "ft" for foot, "in" for inch, and at least "oz" for ounce has one of the letters. But then you have pound and the abbreviation has no relationship whatsoever to the word...
 
jamesbond007

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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The word 'pound' is abbreviated 'lb.' after the constellation 'libra' because it means 'pound' in Latin, and also 'scales'. The abbreviation for the British Pound Sterling comes from the same source: it is an 'L' for Libra/Lb. with a stroke through it to indicate abbreviation. Sames goes for the Italian lira which uses the same abbreviation ('lira' coming from 'libra'). So British currency (before it went metric) was always quoted as "pounds/shillings/pence", abbreviated "L/s/d" (libra/solidus/denarius).

Source

30 seconds on google. ;)
 
A

Abix

Senior member
Oct 19, 2004
503
0
0
Theres nothing quite like hearing a little kid see '10lb' and say '10 libs.'
 
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