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. 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.
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.