POUND, weight. There are two kinds of weights, namely, the troy, and the avoirdupois. The pound avoirdupois is greater than the troy pound, in the proportion of seven thousand to five thousand seven hundred and sixty. The troy pound contains twelve ounces, that of avoirdupois sixteen ounces.
POUND, Eng. law. A place enclosed to keep strayed animals in. 5 Pick. 514; 4 Pick. 258; 9 Pick. 14.
POUND, money. The sum of twenty shillings. Previous to the establishment of
the federal currency,, the different states made use of the pound in
computing money; it was of different value in the several states.
2. Pound sterling, is a denomination of money of Great Britain. It is
of the value of a sovereign. (q.v.) In calculating the rates of duties, the
pound sterling shall be considered and taken as of the value of four dollars
and eighty cents. Apt of March 3, 1833.
3. The pound sterling of Ireland is to be computed, in calculating said
duties, at four dollars and ten cents. Id.
4. The pound of the British provinces Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Newfoundland, and Canada, is to be so computed at four dollars. Act of May,
22, 1846.