pound 
only of the ponnd sterling; It also was divided Into 20 
shillings, the (hilling being worth only an English penny. 
In the currency of the American colonies the pound had 
different value*: In New England and Virginia It wan 
equal at the tlmu of the Revolution to 15*. sterling, or 
ta.xt\ ; In New York and North Carolina, to IK. 3d. ster- 
ling, or K.M; In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
and .Maryland, to 12*., or I2.<XH ; in Ueorgla, to !&., or 
W.OO. These unite of value did not at once disappear 
from local use on the adoption of the decimal system of 
coinage by the United States. 
3f. A balance. 
Uongst them al no change hath yet beene found ; 
But, If thou now shouldst weigh them new In pound, 
We are not sure they would so long reinaine. 
Spenner, F. Q., V. II. 88. 
Five-pound Act, Ten-pound Act, statutes of the colony 
of New York (17.W, 1769) giving to justices of the peace 
and other local magistrates jurisdiction of civil cases In- 
volving not more than the sums named. Found for 
pound, in equal measure or proportions: applied in 
cookery, especially in preserving, to ingredients which 
are taken In equal weights. Ten-pound Act. See Five- 
pound Act, above. Turkish pound. See lint', 2. 
pound 1 (pound), v. t. [<jM>Mn<il, n. Ct.poiuf 1 .] 
If. To weigh. Levins. 2. To wager a pound 
on. [Slang.] 
" Dont be out of temper, my dear," urged the Jew, sub- 
missively. " I hiive never forgot yon, Bill, never once." 
"No! Ill pound it that you han't," replied Slkes, with 
a bitter grin. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xxxix. 
pound 2 (pound), n. [< ME. 'pound, pond, < AS. 
*pund, an inclosure, only in the derived *pyn- 
iiini. shut up, dam, in verbal noun pynding, a 
dam, and comp. forpyndan, turn away (shut 
out), gepyndan, shut up, impound : see pind, 
pinder 1 , and cf. pond 1 , a doublet of pound?.] 
1. An inclosure, maintained by authority, for 
confining cattle or other beasts when taken 
trespassing, or going at large in violation of 
law ; a pinfold. Pounds were also used for the 
deposit of goods seized by distress. 
Pro. You are astray, 'twere best ponnd yon. 
Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for 
carrying your letter. 
Pro. You mistake : I mean the pouiid a pinfold. 
Shot., T. O. of V., 1. 1. 113. 
Home captured creature in a pound, 
Whose artless wonder quite precludes distress. 
Browning, Sordello. 
There is no more ancient institution in the country than 
the Village Pound. It is far older than the King's Bench, 
and probably older than the kingdom. 
Maine, Early Hist, of Institutions, p. 2<tt. 
2f. A pond. 3. In a canal, the level portion 
between two locks. 4. A pound-net; also, 
either one, inner or outer, of the compartments 
of such a net, or the iuclosure of a gang of nets 
in which the fish are finally entrapped. See 
cut under pound-net. 
We concluded the day by accompanying the fisherman 
and a neighbor us they went to ''lift" their pound*. 
Xetr York Kvening Poet, Aug. 28, 1885. 
Big pound, one of the compartments of a weir where 
the fish, directed by the leader, first enter the weir . the 
largest part of the weir, inclosed by a row of stakes. 
Hob's pound. See noW. - Inner pound, the first inclo- 
sure of a pound-net, at the extremity of the run, shaped 
like an obtuse arrow-head, the entrance being between 
the two barbs or h<ik-. Little pound, a compartment 
of a weir into which the flsh pass from the big pound. 
Outer pound, the Inclosure of a pound-net connecting 
with the inner pound. Found overt, an open pound 
that Is, one not roofed, or perhaps one accessible to the 
owner of goods or cattle as distinguished from a pound 
covert or clott. 
A pound (parcus. which signifies any enclosure) Is either 
pound-overt, that is, open overhead ; or pound-fovert. that 
Is. close. UtacM'nu', Com., III. 1. 
Round pound, one of the divisions of the deep-water 
weir, through which the flsh pass, between the pasture and 
the fish-pound. To go to pound, to go to prison ; be Im- 
prisoned. [Slang.] 
pound 2 (pound), r. t. [< pound 2 , r. Cf. im- 
pound. The older verb is pind, q. v.] 1. To 
shut up in a pound; impound; confine as in n 
pound ; hence, to imprison ; confine. 
Well break oar walls, 
Kather than they shall pound us up. 
.Wo*., Cor., I. 4. 17. 
In a lone rustic hall for ever pounded, 
With don, rats, rat*, and squalling brat* surrounded. 
Caiman, Epll. to Sheridan's School for Scandal. 
2. Figuratively, to keep within narrow limits: 
cramp; restrain. 
This wan the cirll and natural habit of that prince ; 
and more might be said If I were not pounded within an 
epistle. .Sir B. Wotton, Bellqultt, p. 246. 
He Is balked or pounded at every step, always trying 
back, but never by any chance hitting off the right road 
to his object. Lever, Davenport Dunn, III. 154. (Iloppe.) 
3. To form into pounds, bins, or compartments. 
In the hair-seal fishery, on the coast of Newfoundland, 
the Teasel's hold U founded of Into bins only a little larger 
than the skins. FMeria of U. 3., V. II. 426. 
pound 3 (pound), c. [Early mod. E. poun,povm; 
< ME. pounen, < AS. piniinii (once), 
4658 
(rare), pound. Cf.pun 1 .] I. tram. 1. To beat; 
strike as with a heavy instrument and with re- 
peated blows ; pommel. 
On the left the Mediterranean was pounding the sand 
and the clam-shells, for the wind had been blowing some 
days from the south, and a good surf was on. 
C. D. Warner, Roundabout Journey, p. 60. 
~t. To inflict ; strike : as, to pound blows. 
An hundred knights had him enclosed round, . . . 
All which at once huge strokes on him did pound, 
In hope to take him prisoner. 
Spenier, F. Q., IV. IT. 81. 
3. To pulverize ; break into fine pieces by strik- 
ing with a heavy instrument ; crush ; reduce to 
powder. 
Which (after) th' Indians parch, and pun, and knead, 
And thereof make them a most holesom bread. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du liartas's Weeks, I. 3. 
Oh, brauely said, Ned Spicing ! the honestest lad that 
euer pound spice in a mortar. 
Ueywood, 1 Edw. IV. (Works, ed. Pearson, 1874, 1. 10). 
I care not, though, like Anacharsis, I were pounded to 
death in a mortar. Webster, White Devil, T. 1. 
II. intrans. 1. To strike repeated blows; 
hammer continuously. 
I found all our ganitxiunding at the MarUnlere. 
'. H. JtuaeU, Diary in India, xviii. 
2. To walk with heavy steps; plod laboriously 
or heavily. 
What yon don't know about cross-country riding in these 
parts that horse does, ... for he 's pounded up and down 
across this Territory for the last five years. 
The Century, XXXVII. 900. 
pound 8 (pound), n. [< pounds, .] A blow; a 
forcible thrust given to an object, thus gener- 
ally occasioning a noise or report; also, the 
sound thus produced. 
poundage 1 (poun'daj), . [Also pondage; < 
ME. "poundage (= M'L. pondagium) ; < pound 1 , 
n., + -age.] 1. A certain sum or rate per 
pound sterling; a tax, duty, or deduction of 
so much per pound ; specifically, in Eng. hist., 
a duty of lid. in the pound on exported or im- 
ported merchandise. See tonnage and pound- 
age (under tonnage), and subsidy. 
Poundage, ... an allowance or abatement of twelve 
Fence in the Pound, upon the receipt of a Summ of 
Money; Also a Duty granted to the Queen of 12 Pence 
for every 20 Shillings Value of all Goods exported or Im- 
ported, except such as pay Tannage, Bullion, and a few 
others. E. Phillips, 1706. 
There were considerable additions made to it last year : 
the ruins of a priory, which, however, make a tenant's 
house, that pays me tolerable poundage. 
Shemtone, Letters, Ixxi. 
Poundage was a duty imposed ad valorem, at the rate 
of 12d. in the pound, on all other merchandise whatsoever. 
Blaelmtune, Com., I. viii. 
2. In late, an allowance to a sheriff or similar 
officer, computed by a percentage on the value 
of property seized by him or the amount of 
the judgment or process satisfied, as a compen- 
sation for bis service. 
Poundage also signifies a fee paid to an ofllcer of a 
court for his services, e. g. to a sheriff's ofltcer, who Is 
entitled by 28 Ellz. c. 4 to a poundage of a shilling In the 
ponnd on an execution up to 100, and sixpence in the 
pound above that sum. KHCIH-. Brit., \\III. 443. 
3. In sult-manuf., the number of pounds of salt 
contained in one cubic foot of brine. 
poundage 1 (poun'daj), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
poundaged, ppr. poundaging. [< poundage*, 
n.] To assess or rate by poundage ; collect as 
poundage. 
The custom-house of certain Publicans that have the 
tiinaglng and the pmmdaging of all free spok'n truth. 
Milton, Areopagltlca. 
poundage 2 (poun'daj), . [< jocund 2 + -age.] 
1. The confinement of cattle in a ponnd. 2. 
A charge levied upon the owners of impounded 
cattle, both as a fine for trespass and to defray 
the cost of caring for the animals. 
Poundage, ... the fee paid to the pounder of cattle. 
K. PhOlipt, 1706. 
-Molly I've known ever since she was dropt ; she has 
brought In the strays, and many Is the poundage she has 
saved Uncle Ket. S. Judd, Margaret, IL 5. 
poundal (poun'dal), n. [(pound* + -al] A 
name proposed by Prof . James Thomson for the 
British kinetic unit of force the force which, 
acting for one second upon a mass of one 
pound, gives it a velocity of one foot per second : 
!/ poundals (g being the acceleration of gravity 
at a given place) are equal to the action of 
gravity upon (that is, to the weight of) one 
pound ; one poundal = 13,825 dynes. 
pound-boat (pound'bot), n. A fishing- bout used 
on Lake Erie. It Is a flat-bottomed, wide-beamed type, 
very simply constructed from rough boards, usually 40 feel 
In length, with a large center-board, carrying two very tall 
pan, and a wide spread of canvas It Is fast before the 
poundrel 
wind, and very roomy, and Is used In transporting flsh 
from the nets to the warehouses and freezing-houses. 
pound-breach (pound'brech), n. [ME. pund- 
breche; (poundi + breach.] The forcible re- 
covery, by the owner, of impounded chattels. 
The taking them (chattels] back by force Is looked upon 
as an atrocious Injury, and denominated a rescous, for 
which the distrainor has a remedy in damages, either by 
writ of rescous, in case they were going to the pound, or 
by writ (of I . . . pound -brcarh, in case they were actually 
impounded. lUacUtone, Com., III. ix. 
pound-cake (pound'kak), . A rich sweet cake, 
so named because its principal ingredients are 
measured by the pound. 
pounder 1 (poun'der), n. 1. A thing or person 
weighing a specified number of pounds: only 
in composition, with a numeral ; specifically, of 
artillery, a gun that discharges a missile of the 
specified weight: thus, & &L-pounder in a cannon 
firing balls weighing each 64 pounds. 
There was the story of DotTue Martling, a large blue- 
bearded Dutchman, who had nearly taken a British frigate 
with an old iron nine-pounder from a mud breastwork, only 
that his gun burst at the sixth discharge. 
Irn'nu. Sketch-Book, p. 442. 
2. A person who promises or pays a specified 
number of pounds sterling. Before the passing of 
the Reform Act of 1867 the term ten-pounden was applied 
In Great Britain to those paying the lowest amount of 
yearly rent (10) entitling them to Tote in parliamentary 
elections in cities and boroughs. 
3t. A kind of pear, supposed to weigh a pound. 
Alctnous' orchard various apples bears; 
Unlike are bergamoU and pounder pears. 
Dryden, tr. of Virgil's Oeorgics, IL 
pounder 2 (poun'der), . [< pound" 2 + -er 1 . Cf. 
pinder.] A pound-keeper. 
pounder 3 (poun'der), n. [< pounds + -er 1 .] 1. 
One who pounds. 2. An instrument for pound- 
ing, (a) A pestle. (6) The beater of a fulling-mill. 
poundfoldt (pound'fold), n. An obsolete form 
of pinfold. 
Fro the poukes pound/aide no maynprise may ous fecche. 
Fieri Plowman (CX xix. 282. 
pound-foolish (pound'fol'ish), n. Neglecting 
the care of large sums or concerns in attending 
to little ones: used only in the phrase penny- 
wise and pound-foolish. See penny-wise . 
pounding (poun'diug), . In coining, the pro- 
cess of testing repeatedly the weight of a given 
number of blanks punched from a sheet of gold 
or silver. 
pounding-barrel (poun'ding-bar'el), n. A bar- 
rel to hold clothes which are pounded in hot 
water with a heavy pestle or pounder to clean 
them. H. B. Stou-e, Oldtown, p. 340. 
pounding-machine (poun'ding-ma-shen'), n. 
A stamping-mill; specifically, a powder-mill. 
E. H. Kniglit. 
pound-keeper (pound'ke'per), n. One who has 
the care of a pound. 
poundman (pound 'man), n.; pi. poundmen 
(-men). A fisherman employed in weir- or 
pound-fishing; a pound-fisherman. 
poundmaster (pound'mas'ter), n. A pound- 
keeper. 
poundmealt, adv. [ME. poundmele; < pound' 1 
+ -meal as in dropmeal, piecemeal, etc.] By 
the pound. 
Pardoners . . . jaf pardon for pons pnundmete a boute. 
Pien Plowman (AX U. 188. 
pound-net (pound'net), n. In Jishing, a kind 
of weir; a wall-net with wings (c, c in the 
cut), a leader (") and a 
pocket, bowl, or pound (6). 
The leader Is an upright net which 
Is extended in a straight line to the 
shore to guide the fish into the mouth 
of an outer netted inclosure called 
the hrart. A contracted opening at 
the extremity of the heart admits the 
flsh Into another inclosure called the 
bowl or pound, with a bottom of net- 
ting, where they remain unto re- 
moved for market. The Ash, In coast- 
Ing along the shore, keep near the 
land, and, meeting the wing of the 
pound, follow the obstruction to Its 
outer extremity, in order to get 
around It, and thus enter the trap, 
from which there Is no escape. The 
wings are in many cases a thousand 
yards In length, 
pound-rate (pound'rat), w. A 
rate or payment at a certain 
proportion per pound. 
Mr, imes In London pay an annual 
pound-rait In the name of tithes by 
virtue f an arbitration or decree con- 
firmed by act of parliament, 
Taller (ed. 1808X Law of Tithes, 1. 151. 
poundrel 1 1 (poun'drel), n. [ME., appar. < 
A weight, of unknown amount. 
MAflSW 
Pound-net. 
