Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of apothecary weight: The 'apothecaries' ounce' is a historical unit of mass used in the apothecaries' system of weights, primarily for measuring medicines and drugs. It is equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of an apothecaries' pound.

Usage

• The term is used in historical or specialized contexts, such as when studying old medical texts, pharmaceutical history, or historical measurement systems. It is not used in modern scientific or commercial contexts, which use the metric system or avoirdupois units.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The old recipe called for one apothecaries' ounce of the herb.
  • In the apothecaries' system, there are twelve apothecaries' ounces in one pound.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in historical reference. Modern equivalents would be given in grams.
  • The physician's 18th-century ledger recorded purchases in apothecaries' ounces.

Variants and Related Words

• Apothecaries' weight (n): The entire system of weights of which the apothecaries' ounce is a part.
• Troy ounce (n): A very similar unit of mass (also 480 grains) used for precious metals. While numerically identical, the apothecaries' ounce and troy ounce were historically part of different systems (apothecaries' and troy weight).
• Fluid ounce (n): A unit of volume, not mass, which is a different concept and should not be confused with the apothecaries' ounce.

Synonyms

• Troy ounce (in terms of absolute weight, but not in application).
• Historical pharmaceutical ounce.

Notes on Meaning

• This term has only one specific, historical meaning as a unit of mass. It is not used figuratively or in common modern language.

Noun

1. a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a pound