Here’s Why ‘LB’ Stands For ‘Pound

Most measurements in the English language have pretty straightforward abbreviations ― “tbsp” for tablespoon, “qt” for quart, “yd” for yard and so on. So why, then, do we use “lb” to refer to pound?

The answer goes back to ancient Rome. “Lb” is an abbreviation of the Latin word libra. Astrology buffs will know that Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac and is symbolized by an image of scales.

In Roman times, the word libra referred to balance or scales. It was also part of a unit of measurement ― libra pondo, which has been translated as “pound weight” or “a pound by weight.” So the shorthand libra, or “lb,” referred to a pound by weight.

The earliest known uses of “libra” or “lb” for pound in the English language supposedly appear in the 14th century.

The “pondo” part of that ancient Roman measurement, meanwhile, is the origin of the word “pound” in English.

Although the word “pound” evokes a measurement of weight for Americans, British people are more likely to associate it with their currency ― the pound sterling, aka the pound. This is because its original value was equivalent to a pound of silver.

Source: huffingtonpost