Why lbs. and £?
The abbreviation originates with the Latin phrase libra pondo, which means “a unit of measurement by weight.” The Romans shortened the phrase to pondo, which ultimately became pound in English, but the abbreviation of the first word - lb., for libra- endured. The symbol for British currency is a stylized L, or £, which comes from the same source. The value of the British pound was originally equal to one pound of silver.
