AUGUST

, the 8th month of the year, containing 31 days. In the antient Roman calendar this was called sextilis, as being the 6th month from March, with which their year began; but changed to its present name by the emperor Augustus, calling it aster his own name on account of his having obtained many victories and honours in that month.

AVOIRDUPOIS Weight, a weight used in England for weighing all the larger and coarser sorts of goods; as groceries, cheese, butter, flesh, wool, salt, hops, &c, and all metals except gold and silver. Avoirdupois weight is thus divided, viz.

16	dr. or drams make	1 ounce, marked oz.
16	oz.	1 pound, lb.
112	lb.	1 hundred weight, cwt.
20	cwt.	1 ton ton.

The Avoirdupois ounce is less than the Troy ounce, in the proportion of 700 to 768, but the Avoirdupois pound greater than the Troy pound in the proportion of 700 to 576;

for 1lb Avoird. is	=	7000	grains Troy,
but 1lb Troy is	=	5760	grains Troy,
also 1 oz Avoird. is	=	437 1/2	grains Troy,
and 1 oz Troy is	=	480	grains Troy.