The apothecaries' system of mass is an obsolete system formerly used by apothecaries (now called pharmacists or chemists) in English-speaking countries. The system was closely related to the troy system of mass, having identically sized pounds and ounces, but the two systems differed in how the ounce was subdivided. Apothecary (from the Latin apothecarius, a keeper of an otheca, a store) is a historical name for a medical practitioner who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist. ... Pharmacists are health professionals who practice pharmacy. ... A chemist is a scientist who specializes in chemistry. ... Troy weight is a system of units of mass customarily used for precious metals and gemstones. ...
During the 20th century, the apothecaries' system was replaced by the metric system and the SI. The International System of Units (symbol: SI) (for the French phrase Syst me International dUnit s) is the most widely used system of units. ... SI (disambiguation). ...
The ounce is the name for a number of different units of mass ('''oz'''), and also of two units of fluid volume ('''fl oz''') and of one unit of force, the '''ounce-force''' ('''ozf''').
apothecaries' ounce defined by the now-obsolete apothecaries' system of mass.
The ounce-force (see pound-force) is the force exerted by a mass of 1 oz avoirdupois at the standard acceleration of gravity, usually borrowing the value which is official for defining kilograms-force, 9.80665 m/s².
The distinction between this imperial system and the U.S. customary units (also called standard units there) or older British/English units/systems and newer additions (foot-pound-second systems) is often not drawn precisely.
In all the systems, the fundamental unit is the pound, and all other units are defined as fractions or multiples of it.
Imperial units were eliminated from all road signs, although both systems of measurement will still be found on privately-owned signs (such as the height warnings at the entrance of a multi-storey parking facility).