Stone (unit)
The stone (abbreviation st) is an informal unit of measure equal to 14 pounds avoirdupois (about 6.35 kg) used in Great Britain and Ireland for measuring human body weight. The stone was formerly used for purposes of trade in many North-West European countries where its value ranged from about 5 to 40 local pounds (3 to 15 kg), but with the advent of metrication from the mid-19th century onwards it was superseded by the kilogram; its use for trade in the United Kingdom and in Ireland being rescinded in the 1980s. It may be unfamiliar to an international audience.
Read more about Stone (unit): Antiquity, Great Britain and Ireland, Continental Europe, Metric Stone
Famous quotes containing the word stone:
“As Jerome expanded, its chances for the title, “the toughest little town in the West,” increased and when it was incorporated in 1899 the citizens were able to support the claim by pointing to the number of thick stone shutters on the fronts of all saloons, gambling halls, and other places of business for protection against gunfire.”
—Administration in the State of Ariz, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)