| 释义 |
pennyweight|ˈpɛnɪweɪt|
[f. penny + weight n.]
A measure of weight, equal to 24 grains, 1/20 of an ounce Troy, or 1/240 of a pound Troy. (Formerly = 1/240 of a Tower pound, i.e. 22½ grains, which was the actual weight of a silver penny.) Abbreviated dwt.
[c1000Sax. Leechd. I. 248 ᵹenim of þam lichoman þysse ylcan wyrte mandragore, þreora peneᵹa ᵹewihte.] 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. lxxi. (Bodl. MS.) A peny weiȝt of þe rote þerof [sc. of ferula] idronke in twei ciates of wyne. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 62 Make of hem smale ballys þat weyȝen j. penye wyȝt. 1590Recorde, etc. Gr. Artes (1640) 133 As 24 Barley-corns dry, and taken out of the middest of the Ear, do make a penny weight, 20 of those penny weights make an ounce. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iv. ii. i. (1651) 377 To give Hellebor in powder to iid weight. 1789W. Merrey Coinage Eng. 8 The silver penny was about twenty-two grains and a half of Troy-weight, but called a pennyweight Tower. 1877Blackmore Erema li, In that letter the Major mingled a pennyweight of condolence with more congratulation than the post could carry for the largest stamp yet invented.
b. A proportional measure of one-twelfth used in stating the fineness of silver; see quots., and cf. carat 3.
1758Reid tr. Macquer's Chym. I. 74 Silver..is supposed to be divided into twelve parts only, which are called penny⁓weights: so that when absolutely pure it is said to be twelve penny-weights fine; when it contains 1/12 of alloy, it is then called eleven penny-weights fine. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 763 If the mass of silver be pure, it is called silver of 12 penny-weights. |