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pound

1. An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.

2. A level stretch in a canal between locks.

3. A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward. Pound covert, a pound that is close or covered over, as a shed. Pound overt, a pound that is open overhead.

Origin: AS. Pund an inclosure: cf. Forpyndan to turn away, or to repress, also Icel. Pynda to extort, torment, Ir. Pont, pond, pound. Cf. Pinder, Pinfold, Pin to inclose, Pond.

Origin: AS. Pund, fr. L. Pondo, akin to pondus a weight, pendere top weigh. See Pendant.

1. A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.

The pound in general use in the united states and in England is the pound avoirdupois, which is divided into sixteen ounces, and contains 7,000 grains. The pound troy is divided into twelve ounces, and contains 5,760 grains. 144 pounds avoirdupois are equal to 175 pounds troy weight. See Avoirdupois, and Troy.

2. A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.

The pound sterling was in saxon times, about A. D. 671, a pound troy of silver, and a shilling was its twentieth part; consequently the latter was three times as large as it is at present.

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