metric hundredweight
- noun
- /ˈmɛtrɪk ˈhʌndrɛdˌweɪt/
- Specialized
- A metric hundredweight is equal to 100 kilograms.
Examples
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The shipment was listed as five metric hundredweights of wheat.
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The shipment weighed three metric hundredweights.
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A metric hundredweight is commonly used in agricultural markets.
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Each bale of cotton weighed about one metric hundredweight.
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A metric hundredweight is equal to 100 kilograms in the metric system.
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The load was measured at four metric hundredweights to ensure proper handling.
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In many countries, a metric hundredweight is a standard unit for weighing produce.
Synonyms
A weight of 100 kilograms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'metric' specifies the measurement system and 'hundredweight' denotes a weight unit, so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the hundredweight measured in the metric system (i.e. 100 kg). This modifier+headword pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular noun-compound logic, making the meaning immediately derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Metric hundredweight comes from the older name hundredweight, which traders used as a common standard for a large weight in markets. When people switched to the metric system, they kept the name but set it to exactly '100 kilograms', so metric hundredweight now means that specific 100 kg unit.