noun
petra
PEHT-ruh
noun
1
An old unit of weight, roughly equal to 14 pounds, once used for measuring wool and similar goods.
"The merchant priced the wool by the petra rather than by the pound."
How to Use Petra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned weight measurement, about 14 pounds, historically used for goods like wool.
Memory tip
You will mostly meet this word in historical or antiquarian texts, not everyday speech — it is not a unit anyone uses today.
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The merchant priced the wool by the _____ rather than by the pound.
Etymology
From Latin petra, "rock" or "stone" — the same root behind words like "petrify."