World Wide Words: Abbreviation lb for pound

[A] The origin is in the Latin word libra, which could mean both balance scales (hence the symbol for the astrological sign Libra, which was named after a constellation that was thought to resemble scales) and also a pound weight, for which the full expression was libra pondo, the second word being the origin of our pound.

World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996–2009. All rights reserved. Contact me if you want to reproduce this piece, but first see my advice page, which also has notes about linking. Your comments and corrections are welcome.

Page created 3 Oct. 1998

E-Magazine

Try the weekly World Wide Words e-magazine — it features words in the news, weird words, new(ish) words, old words, words people ask questions about, and even the occasional grovelling correction.

GET THE E-MAGAZINE BY E-MAIL

E-MAGAZINE GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

BROWSE BACK ISSUES

DETAILS OF RSS FEEDS

Notes and comments

Looking for a Christmas present? Try my book with the strange title: Why is Q Always Followed by U?

Can't tell your sinistro- from your dextro-? Help is at hand! Consult my dictionary of word beginnings and endings.

World Wide Words is supported by its readers: take a look here to see how you can help.

Try a page at random