the system of weighing things that uses the standard measures of the ounce, pound, and ton metric system (avoir de pois )
French, avoir, aver or avier, goods in general, and poise = poids (weight) Not the verb, but the noun avoir Properly avoir de poids (goods having weight), goods sold by weight We have the word aver, meaning goods in general, hence also cattle; whence such compounds as aver-corn, aver-penny, aver-silver, aver-land, and so on We have also the noun "having, havings" = possessions There is a common French phrase avoir du poids (to be weight), with which our word avoir dupois has been muddled up "Pared my present havings [property] to bestow My bounties upon you " Shakespeare: Henry VIII, iii 2 "One of your having, and yet cark and care " Muses' Looking Glass Even medicines, as wholesale goods, are bought and sold by avoirdupois weight A-weather The reverse of a-lee "A-weather" is towards the weather, or the side on which the wind strikes "A-lee" is in the lee or shelter, and therefore opposite to the wind side; as helm a-weather
the official system of weights used in UK between 1856 and 1963. It had been the customary system in London since AD 1300
Common trade system of weights used in the United States and England Sixteen ounces equals 7,000 grains An avoirdupois pounds equals 14 583 troy ounces or 453 6 grams
\av-ur-duh-POIZ; AV-ur-duh-poiz\, noun: 1 Avoirdupois weight (see below) 2 Weight; heaviness; as, a person of much avoirdupois
excess bodily weight; "she found fatness disgusting in herself as well as in others"
{i} system of weights used in Britain and the United States (used to measure certain goods); body heaviness; excess physical weight
Often referred to as the Imperial System of Weights and Measurement (a) French for "having weight;" (b) A system of weight measurement based on the pound of 16 ounces and the ounce of 16 drams