pounds

Pound \Pound\, n.; pl. {Pounds}, collectively {Pound} or
   {Pounds}. [AS. pund, fr. L. pondo, akin to pondus a weight,
   pendere to weigh. See {Pendant}.]
   1. A certain specified measure of mass or weight; especially,
      a legal standard consisting of an established number of
      ounces.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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 (0.453
         kilogram). 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}.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to
      twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about
      $4.86 in 1900 and $1.50 in 2002. The modern pound coin was
      introduced in 1983. Formerly there was a gold sovereign of
      the same value.
      [1913 Webster + PJC]

   Note: 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. --Peacham.
         [1913 Webster]