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The "lb." abbreviation for pound comes from the old Rome and is lifted from the Latin, "libra pondo," or "pound of weight."  The "oz." for ounce came from the medieval Italy and is from onza, meaning a twelfth part, because at the time the English ounce was one-twelfth of the Roman pound of 330 grams.   Even though an ounce is now one-sixteenth of a pound, it's still abbbreviated as "oz."

 

13 years ago. Rating: 4
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