Abbreviation for Pounds — Infoplease.com

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The Question:

I have had a unsuccessful search for the origin of the abbreviation "lbs." which is used for pounds. What does it stand for, and where did it come from?

The Answer:

The abbreviation .lbs is based on the word "libra." A libra was the basic unit of weight used by Ancient Romans. It was almost equivalent to today's English pound. The word is Latin and it means "balance," or "the scales."

The libra is still a basic unit of weight in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and other Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas.

For more information check out this Chart of Common Weights and Measures.

—The Editors

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