, meaning a tiny stone (from ' sharp stone), indicates a weight of of a
Roman ounce
The (plural: , lit. "''a twelfth''") was a Roman unit of length, weight, and volume. It survived as the Byzantine liquid ounce (, ''oungía'') and the origin of the English inch, ounce, and fluid ounce.
The Roman inch was equal to of a Roma ...
(i.e.) or, by extension, of other measures. Metaphorically, the stone is thought to be sharp and pricking, like a thorn.
* As a weight or a coin, of an , or of an
as; i.e. 1.14 grams
* As a measure of land, of a ; i.e. about
* As a measure of time, part of an hour, or minutes.
[M. AUREL. d.; FRONT. Caes. 2, 9]
The forms ', ', ' and ' can be found, being also associated with the lines on a draughtboard.
See also
*
Roman currency
Roman currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum#Numismatics, orichalcum and copper coinage. From its introduction during the Roman Republic, Republic, in the third century BC, through Roman Empire, Imperial ...
References
, Hachette 1934
Coins of ancient Rome
Ancient Roman units of measurement
Units of mass
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