Definition

Noun: - A system of weight units historically used in pharmacy and medicine: The apothecaries' unit refers to a specific system of weights traditionally employed for measuring medicinal ingredients and compounds. This system is distinct from the avoirdupois system used for general goods. Its primary units are the grain, scruple, dram, ounce, and pound.

Usage

The term "apothecaries' unit" is used to describe the collective system or to refer to any individual weight measure within that system. It is primarily historical and technical. - The old recipe called for two drams of the herb, measured in apothecaries' units. - Before the metric system, pharmacists relied on the apothecaries' unit for precise measurements.

Advanced Usage

• "Apothecaries' weight": This is a synonymous term for the entire system of apothecaries' units.
  • The physician wrote the prescription using apothecaries' weight.
• The system is often contrasted with the troy weight (used for precious metals) and the avoirdupois weight (used for common goods). While similar in some unit names (e.g., grain, ounce, pound), the actual masses differ between these systems.

Variants and Related Words

• Apothecaries' weight: (n) Another name for the system of apothecaries' units.
• Grain: (n) The smallest unit in this system, often used as a reference point (e.g., 1 scruple = 20 grains).
• Scruple: (n) A unit equal to 20 grains.
• Dram (or drachm): (n) A unit equal to 3 scruples or 60 grains.
• Apothecaries' ounce: (n) A unit equal to 8 drams or 480 grains.
• Apothecaries' pound: (n) A unit equal to 12 apothecaries' ounces or 5,760 grains.

Synonyms

• Apothecaries' weight: The system of weights for pharmacy.
• Pharmacists' weight: A less common term with the same meaning.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "apothecaries' unit" refers specifically to the historical weight system. It does not refer to a pharmacy itself (which is an "apothecary") or to a single, undefined unit of measurement. It is a collective term for the set of standardized weights within that system.

Noun

1. any weight unit used in pharmacy; an ounce is equal to 480 grains and a pound is equal to 12 ounces