metricationn.

1965 J. V. Dunworth (Director, Nat. Physical Lab.) in Times 29 Nov. 11/5 Earlier this year the National Physical Laboratory sought the guidance of the editor [sc. E. McIntosh] of the Concise Oxford Dictionary on this matter... His reply was as follows:—‘Consider the following: Carbon(ize); decimal(ize);..methyl(ate); oxygen(ate). The modern tendency is to use -ize, -ization in forming new words rather than -ate, -ation. It seems to me that either metrication or metricization could be used.’ In the light of these comments the N.P.L. and the Ministry of Technology chose ‘metrication’ on the grounds of brevity and euphony. The corresponding verb ‘metricate’ seems very satisfactory.

1966 New Scientist 6 Jan. 32/1 Some British scientists who have worked for years with dynes and oersteds, calories and millimetres of mercury, may think they need not share the worries of their fellow citizens about metrication.

1969 Guardian 27 Jan. 3/4 The metrication of large sections of British industry will soon be an accomplished fact.

1976 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 25 Aug. 5/4 Those puzzled by degrees celsius and kilometres can find help in nine metrication courses.

1983 J. S. Foster Struct. & Fabric (rev. ed.) I. iii. 9/2 Further information concerning metrication is contained in BS PD 6031, A Guide for the use of the Metric System in the Construction Industry.

1995 Independent 31 Mar. 26/4 In recent years, the pure Dozenal aim, of a counting system that allowed easy divisibility into halves, thirds and quarters, has become concentrated on the fight against metrication.