Similar Questions for How did Lbs Become Abbreviation For Pounds from Yahoo AnswersQuestionAnswer
The abbreviation is taken from origin Latin word LIBRA, which meant balancing scales.
Full expression is 'libra pondo;, the second word being the origin of our pound.
Thus libra became lbs.
The word “pound” comes from the Latin word pendere, meaning “to weigh”. The Latin word libra means “scales, balances" and it also describes a Roman unit of mass similar to a pound. This is the origin of the abbreviation “lb” or “℔” for the pound. The “s” at the end of “lbs” simply denotes the plural form.
It comes from the Latin. The word "libra" means "scale, balances". This is shortened to "lb", while the plural is "lbs". I believe the short form became common when Latin was more commonly used worldwide as an international language.
For those who like etymology, the Spanish word for pound is "libra" as well, and in French the b gets changed to a v, giving the word "livre".