apothecaries' weight

noun

any weight unit used in pharmacy; an ounce is equal to 480 grains and a pound is equal to 12 ounces

• Syn: ↑apothecaries' unit

• Hypernyms: ↑weight unit, ↑weight

• Hyponyms:

↑grain, ↑scruple, ↑dram, ↑drachm, ↑drachma, ↑ounce, ↑troy ounce, ↑apothecaries' ounce, ↑troy pound, ↑apothecaries' pound

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noun or apothecary weight

: the series of units of weight, including the pound of 12 ounces, the dram of 60 grains, and the scruple, used chiefly by pharmacists in compounding medical prescriptions — see measure table

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a system of weights used chiefly in compounding and dispensing drugs: 20 grains = 1 scruple; 3 scruples = 1 dram; 8 drams = 1 ounce; 12 ounces = 1 pound. The grain, ounce, and pound are the same as in troy weight, the grain alone being the same as in avoirdupois weight.

[1755-65]

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apothecaries' weight noun

A pre-1969 system based on the troy ounce

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Main Entry: ↑apothecary

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apothecaries' measure,

a system of fluid measure used in mixing and dispensing liquid drugs. In the United States:

▪60 minims ▪ = 1 fluid dram ▪ = 3.6966 milliliters

▪8 fluid drams ▪ = 1 fluid ounce ▪ = 0.0295 liter

▪16 fluid ounces ▪ = 1 pint ▪ = 0.4732 liter

▪8 pints ▪ = 1 U.S. gallon or 231 cubic inches or 3.7853 liters ▪

apothecaries' weight,

a system of dry weights in which a pound containing 12 ounces is used. Apothecaries' weight is used in mixing drugs and filling prescriptions:

▪20 grains ▪ = 1 scruple ▪ = 1.296 grams

▪3 scruples ▪ = 1 dram ▪ = 3.888 grams

▪8 drams ▪ = 1 ounce ▪ = 31.1035 grams

▪12 ounces ▪ = 1 pound ▪ = 373.24 grams

a|poth|e|car|y «uh POTH uh _KEHR ee», noun, plural -car|ies.

1. a person who prepares and sells drugs and medicines; druggist; pharmacist.

2. a person in England and Ireland who formerly prescribed medicines and sold them as well.

╂[< Late Latin apothēcārius shopkeeper < Latin apothēca storehouse < Greek apothē, related to apotithénai to put away < apo- away + tithénai put]