Why Is the Pound Abbreviated lb?
Why Is the Pound Abbreviated lb? Our abbreviation “lb.” for “pound” comes from the Latin “libra pondo,” meaning “a pound by Weight.” The ancient Romans invented the pound as a measure to weigh money.
They used a money-weighing scale which was called a “libra,” and when a pound of coins was weighed, they said “libra pondo.”
When the Roman weight traveled north to England, merchants began using the libra pondo to measure the weight of such ordinary things as wheat and fish.
In time, “pondo” became “pound” and “libra” was shortened to “lb.” for the merchant’s pound.