# Why are pound and ounce abbreviated "lb." and "oz."?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 30, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565 "2012-05-30T18:10:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ktel60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@ktel60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ktel60)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565/1 "2012-05-30T18:10:07Z")

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Let’s not forget James Joyce’s emigmatic references to “LSD” - which refers to Pounds (L) Shillings (S) and Pence (D)/

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**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565/2 "2012-05-30T21:18:49Z")

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“lb” for “libra”, I believe (Latin for “weight”)

Edit: or for “scales” perhaps… my high school Latin was over a decade ago

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**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565/3 "2012-05-30T22:19:46Z")

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The column referred to is [Why are pound and ounce abbreviated “lb.” and “oz.”?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/755/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz), dated September 30, 1988.

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**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pound-and-ounce-abbreviated-lb-and-oz/623565/4 "2012-05-30T22:33:32Z")

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D’oh! I thought this was GQ and the poster was looking for an answer to the question in the title.:smack: