The pound, symbolized as “lb,” has an intriguing history that dates back to ancient Rome. The word “pound” originates from the Latin word “libra,” a unit used in Rome, which explains its abbreviation “lb.” The pound in England was first standardized in the 13th century as the Tower pound, which was later replaced by the more familiar Avoirdupois pound in 1959. This unit is still widely used in the United States and other countries as a measure of weight, equivalent to 16 ounces or approximately 453.592 grams.
The term “pound” is also used in currency, notably the British Pound Sterling, reflecting its historical association with a pound weight of silver. Interestingly, both uses of “pound” highlight its longstanding economic significance, indicating value and weight across different contexts and time periods. Such dual purposes underscore the unit’s adaptability and persistence through history, making it a fascinating study in linguistic and metrological evolution.
The stone is a unit of weight that has a particularly rich history, mainly used in the UK and Ireland for human body weight measurement. Originating from the Biblical days, a stone was once standardized by the British Act of Parliament in 1835 to equal 14 pounds. This peculiar unit is still popular in daily life, especially in conversations about body weight or livestock; any Harry Potter fan will recognize Hagrid’s impressive weight mentioned in stones!
An interesting fact is that the symbol for stone “st” doesn’t change forms, much like “lb” for pounds, which can be confusing at first glance. Unlike metric units with their straightforward conversions, the cultural and historical essence of the stone makes it an intriguing part of British heritage, fostering a sense of continuity from medieval markets to modern times.
Pounds | Stones |
---|---|
0
lb
|
0
st
|
1
lb
|
0.0714286
st
|
2
lb
|
0.142857
st
|
3
lb
|
0.214286
st
|
4
lb
|
0.285714
st
|
5
lb
|
0.357143
st
|
6
lb
|
0.428571
st
|
7
lb
|
0.5
st
|
8
lb
|
0.571429
st
|
9
lb
|
0.642857
st
|
10
lb
|
0.714286
st
|
11
lb
|
0.785714
st
|
12
lb
|
0.857143
st
|
13
lb
|
0.928571
st
|
14
lb
|
1
st
|
15
lb
|
1.07143
st
|
16
lb
|
1.14286
st
|
17
lb
|
1.21429
st
|
18
lb
|
1.28571
st
|
19
lb
|
1.35714
st
|
20
lb
|
1.42857
st
|
21
lb
|
1.5
st
|
22
lb
|
1.57143
st
|
23
lb
|
1.64286
st
|
24
lb
|
1.71429
st
|
25
lb
|
1.78571
st
|
26
lb
|
1.85714
st
|
27
lb
|
1.92857
st
|
28
lb
|
2
st
|
29
lb
|
2.07143
st
|
30
lb
|
2.14286
st
|
31
lb
|
2.21429
st
|
32
lb
|
2.28571
st
|
33
lb
|
2.35714
st
|
34
lb
|
2.42857
st
|
35
lb
|
2.5
st
|
36
lb
|
2.57143
st
|
37
lb
|
2.64286
st
|
38
lb
|
2.71429
st
|
39
lb
|
2.78571
st
|
40
lb
|
2.85714
st
|
41
lb
|
2.92857
st
|
42
lb
|
3
st
|
43
lb
|
3.07143
st
|
44
lb
|
3.14286
st
|
45
lb
|
3.21429
st
|
46
lb
|
3.28571
st
|
47
lb
|
3.35714
st
|
48
lb
|
3.42857
st
|
49
lb
|
3.5
st
|
50
lb
|
3.57143
st
|
51
lb
|
3.64286
st
|
52
lb
|
3.71429
st
|
53
lb
|
3.78571
st
|
54
lb
|
3.85714
st
|
55
lb
|
3.92857
st
|
56
lb
|
4
st
|
57
lb
|
4.07143
st
|
58
lb
|
4.14286
st
|
59
lb
|
4.21429
st
|
60
lb
|
4.28571
st
|
61
lb
|
4.35714
st
|
62
lb
|
4.42857
st
|
63
lb
|
4.5
st
|
64
lb
|
4.57143
st
|
65
lb
|
4.64286
st
|
66
lb
|
4.71429
st
|
67
lb
|
4.78571
st
|
68
lb
|
4.85714
st
|
69
lb
|
4.92857
st
|
70
lb
|
5
st
|
71
lb
|
5.07143
st
|
72
lb
|
5.14286
st
|
73
lb
|
5.21429
st
|
74
lb
|
5.28571
st
|
75
lb
|
5.35714
st
|
76
lb
|
5.42857
st
|
77
lb
|
5.5
st
|
78
lb
|
5.57143
st
|
79
lb
|
5.64286
st
|
80
lb
|
5.71429
st
|
81
lb
|
5.78571
st
|
82
lb
|
5.85714
st
|
83
lb
|
5.92857
st
|
84
lb
|
6
st
|
85
lb
|
6.07143
st
|
86
lb
|
6.14286
st
|
87
lb
|
6.21429
st
|
88
lb
|
6.28571
st
|
89
lb
|
6.35714
st
|
90
lb
|
6.42857
st
|
91
lb
|
6.5
st
|
92
lb
|
6.57143
st
|
93
lb
|
6.64286
st
|
94
lb
|
6.71429
st
|
95
lb
|
6.78571
st
|
96
lb
|
6.85714
st
|
97
lb
|
6.92857
st
|
98
lb
|
7
st
|
99
lb
|
7.07143
st
|
100
lb
|
7.14286
st
|
If you like the website, share it on social media.