The Diet Report

Today's weigh-in: 1W7 lbs. That's a weight loss of 1 pound for the past week, or 7.5 lbs in 4 weeks.

Which brings up a curious question: Why on earth do we have an abbreviation of "lb" for a word that HAS no "l" or "b" in it?

It all goes back to Latin. That glorious, sonorous and "Boy-do-we-have-fewer-exceptions-than-English" language. You know, the one people keep saying is dead.

Libra is a Latin word which can mean both "pound weight" and also stand for the "balance scales." (remember how the "Libra" constellation is supposed to look like a pair of balance scales?)

The "l" and "b" of Libra became the abbreviation, but the original phrase was "libra pondo" and it was the "pondo" part that led to our English word, "pound."

Neat, huh?

I knew you'd agree. And when you consider that up to 75% of our words are derivatives of Latin, and that the whole scientific nomenclature (birds, bees, body parts) relies on Latin, then it becomes pretty clear that the ancient Romans are having the last laugh.

Except of course, they are all dead....
 

Tweet