Pound | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Pound, n.

noun

n. [A-S., Goth., Icel., Dan., & Sw. pund, D. pond, O. H. Ger. phunt, N. H. Ger. pfund, Lat. pondo, allied to pondus, a weight, from pendere, to weigh.]

Sense 1. A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces; as the pound avoirdupois, which is divided into 16 ounces, and the pound troy, which is divided into 12 ounces. 144 pounds avoirdupois are equal to 175 pounds troy weight.

Sense 2. A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to 20 shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.84. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.

The pound sterling was in Saxon times, about A. D. 671, a pound troy of silver, and a shilling was its twentieth part; consequently the latter was three times as large as it is at present. Peacham.

Pound-foolish, careless as to the expenditure of large sums. See PENNY-WISE.

Pound, n.

noun

n. [A-S. pund, a pound, fold, from pyndan, to shut up, confine.] An inclosure, erected by authority, in which cattle or other beasts are confined when taken in trespassing, or going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.

Pound covert, a pound that is close or covered over, as a stable or other building.—Pound overt, one that is open overhead. Burrill.

Pound, v. t.

verbtransitive

[A-S. pyndan. See supra.] To confine in a pound, or place of public restraint; to impound. “To liken it to the exploit of that gallant man who thought to pound up the crows by shutting his park gate.” Milton.

Pound, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. POUNDED; p. pr. & vb. n. POUNDING.] [A-S. punian, to bruise.] 1. To beat or strike with some heavy instrument, and with repeated blows, so as to make an impression. With cruel blows she pounds her blubbered cheeks. Dryden. 2. To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine parts by a heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt. Loud strokes with pounding spice the fabric rend. Garth.