The (; plural ) was the base unit of weight in the Portuguese customary measurement system.Dicionário Enciclopédico Lello Universal, Oporto: Lello & Irmão, 2002. Until the adoption of the metric system in the 19th century, the was used in Portugal, Brazil and other parts of the Portuguese Empire.MONTEVERDE, Emilio Achilles, Manual Encyclopedico para Uzo das Escolas de Instrucção Primaria, Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional, 1861.
The real value of the fluctuated during the Middle Ages. Before King Peter I, the main seems to have been equivalent to ounces. With Peter I, the official increased to 14 ounces. Finally, the Portuguese was fixed at 16 ounces by decree of King Manuel I in 1499. This , which was kept as the national standard until the introduction of the metric system, was similar to the Spanish .
values 13th century: (ounces) = = 0.3596 kilograms 15th century: 14 = 0.4025 kg 1499: 16 = 1 = 1.011 avoirdupois pounds = 0.4590 kg
See also Portuguese customary units Pound (mass)
References