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.
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.
Stones | Pounds |
---|---|
0
st
|
0
lb
|
0.5
st
|
7
lb
|
1
st
|
14
lb
|
1.5
st
|
21
lb
|
2
st
|
28
lb
|
2.5
st
|
35
lb
|
3
st
|
42
lb
|
3.5
st
|
49
lb
|
4
st
|
56
lb
|
4.5
st
|
63
lb
|
5
st
|
70
lb
|
5.5
st
|
77
lb
|
6
st
|
84
lb
|
6.5
st
|
91
lb
|
7
st
|
98
lb
|
7.5
st
|
105
lb
|
8
st
|
112
lb
|
8.5
st
|
119
lb
|
9
st
|
126
lb
|
9.5
st
|
133
lb
|
10
st
|
140
lb
|
10.5
st
|
147
lb
|
11
st
|
154
lb
|
11.5
st
|
161
lb
|
12
st
|
168
lb
|
12.5
st
|
175
lb
|
13
st
|
182
lb
|
13.5
st
|
189
lb
|
14
st
|
196
lb
|
14.5
st
|
203
lb
|
15
st
|
210
lb
|
15.5
st
|
217
lb
|
16
st
|
224
lb
|
16.5
st
|
231
lb
|
17
st
|
238
lb
|
17.5
st
|
245
lb
|
18
st
|
252
lb
|
18.5
st
|
259
lb
|
19
st
|
266
lb
|
19.5
st
|
273
lb
|
20
st
|
280
lb
|
20.5
st
|
287
lb
|
21
st
|
294
lb
|
21.5
st
|
301
lb
|
22
st
|
308
lb
|
22.5
st
|
315
lb
|
23
st
|
322
lb
|
23.5
st
|
329
lb
|
24
st
|
336
lb
|
24.5
st
|
343
lb
|
25
st
|
350
lb
|
25.5
st
|
357
lb
|
26
st
|
364
lb
|
26.5
st
|
371
lb
|
27
st
|
378
lb
|
27.5
st
|
385
lb
|
28
st
|
392
lb
|
28.5
st
|
399
lb
|
29
st
|
406
lb
|
29.5
st
|
413
lb
|
30
st
|
420
lb
|
30.5
st
|
427
lb
|
31
st
|
434
lb
|
31.5
st
|
441
lb
|
32
st
|
448
lb
|
32.5
st
|
455
lb
|
33
st
|
462
lb
|
33.5
st
|
469
lb
|
34
st
|
476
lb
|
34.5
st
|
483
lb
|
35
st
|
490
lb
|
35.5
st
|
497
lb
|
36
st
|
504
lb
|
36.5
st
|
511
lb
|
37
st
|
518
lb
|
37.5
st
|
525
lb
|
38
st
|
532
lb
|
38.5
st
|
539
lb
|
39
st
|
546
lb
|
39.5
st
|
553
lb
|
40
st
|
560
lb
|
40.5
st
|
567
lb
|
41
st
|
574
lb
|
41.5
st
|
581
lb
|
42
st
|
588
lb
|
42.5
st
|
595
lb
|
43
st
|
602
lb
|
43.5
st
|
609
lb
|
44
st
|
616
lb
|
44.5
st
|
623
lb
|
45
st
|
630
lb
|
45.5
st
|
637
lb
|
46
st
|
644
lb
|
46.5
st
|
651
lb
|
47
st
|
658
lb
|
47.5
st
|
665
lb
|
48
st
|
672
lb
|
48.5
st
|
679
lb
|
49
st
|
686
lb
|
49.5
st
|
693
lb
|
50
st
|
700
lb
|
If you like the website, share it on social media.