A system of weights used in English-speaking countries where a pound contains 16 ounces, used for most non-precious goods.
From Old French 'avoir de pois' meaning 'goods of weight,' reflecting medieval commerce terminology; it became standardized in English commerce during the Middle Ages.
Avoirdupois is why Americans and British people weigh things in pounds and ounces while scientists use kilograms—it's a 700-year-old French merchants' system that never got officially replaced by the metric system!
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