ounce
Middle English
/ˈuːns(ə)/
noun
Definitions
- An ounce unit with much variation, but generally equivalent to 1/12 or 1/16 of a pound
- (rare) A shekel ancient measure of weight
- (rare) A minuscule or insignificant amount or quantity.
- (rare) An eight-minute unit for measuring time.
- (rare) A three-inch unit for measuring length.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French once derived from Old French once derived from Latin uncia (twelfth part, ounce, one-twelfth part, 1 12 part, inch, a twelth, a twelfth part).
Origin
Latin
uncia
Gloss
twelfth part, ounce, one-twelfth part, 1 12 part, inch, a twelth, a twelfth part
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- ounce English
- ouncer English
- unce English
- uncial English
- deunx Latin
- quincunx Latin
- septunx Latin
- sescuncia Latin
- teruncius Latin
- uncia Latin
- oncia Italian
- ons Dutch, Flemish
- once French
- ouguiya French
- onza Spanish, Castilian
- οὐγγία Ancient Greek
- ynce Old English
- ynċe Old English
- unsa Irish
- أونصة Arabic
- once Old French
- unca Serbo-Croatian
- únsa Icelandic
- ungae Old Irish
- onche Norman
- once Middle French
- 𐌿𐌽𐌺𐌾𐌰 Gothic
- 安士 Chinese
- 盎司 Chinese
- aunsi Swahili
- once Friulian