Avoirdupois weight, a system of weights by which coarser commodities are weighed, such as hay, grain, butter, sugar, tea.
The standard Avoirdupois pound of the United States is equivalent to the weight of 27.7015 cubic inches of distilled water at 62° Fahrenheit, the barometer being at 30 inches, and the water weighed in the air with brass weights. In this system of weights 16 drams make 1 ounce, 16 ounces 1 pound, 25 pounds 1 quarter, 4 quarters 1 hundred weight, and 20 hundred weight 1 ton. The above pound contains 7,000 grains, or 453.54 grams, so that 1 pound avoirdupois is equivalent to 1 31-144 pounds troy. (See Troy weight.) Formerly, a hundred weight was reckoned at 112 pounds, the ton being 2,240 pounds (sometimes called a long ton).
A*voke" (&?;), v. t. [Cf. Avocate.] To call from or back again. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
Av"o*late (&?;), v. i. [L. avolare; a (ab) + volare to fly.] To fly away; to escape; to exhale. [Obs.]
Av`o*la"tion (&?;), n. [LL. avolatio.] The act of flying; flight; evaporation. [Obs.]
Av"o*set (&?;), n. Same as Avocet.
A*vouch" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avouched (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Avouching.] [OF. avochier, LL. advocare to recognize the existence of a thing, to advocate, fr. L. advocare to call to; ad + vocare to call. Cf. Avow to declare, Advocate, and see Vouch, v. t.] 1. To appeal to; to cite or claim as authority. [Obs.]
They avouch many successions of authorities.
Coke.