scruple

scruple
(s)
   a unit of weight in the traditional (troy) system used by English apothecaries, equal to 20 grains, 1/24 troy ounce2 or approximately 1.2960 gram. See also dram2, and see troy weights for additional information. The name of the unit is from the Latin scrupulus, meaning a small, sharp stone. (This word also came to mean "something which causes pain or annoyance," such as a pebble in one's shoe, and this led to our other use of the word "scruple" to mean an ethical consideration.) Units similar to the scruple were used throughout Europe; the French and Russian scrupule, Italian scrupolo, and German skrupul are equal to 20 of the local unit corresponding to the grain and all are equivalent to something in the range 1.1-1.3 grams.

Dictionary of units of measurement. 2015.

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  • Scruple — Scru ple, n. [L. scrupulus a small sharp or pointed stone, the twenty fourth part of an ounce, a scruple, uneasiness, doubt, dim. of scrupus a rough or sharp stone, anxiety, uneasiness; perh. akin to Gr. ? the chippings of stone, ? a razor, Skr.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scruple — • An unfounded apprehension and consequently unwarranted fear that something is a sin which, as a matter of fact, is not Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Scruple     Scruple      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Scruple — Scru ple, v. t. 1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question. [1913 Webster] Others long before them . . . scrupled more the books of heretics than of gentiles. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scruple — Scru ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Scrupled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scrupling}.] To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on account of considerations of conscience or expedience. [1913 Webster] We are often over precise, scrupling to say or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scruple — n demur, *qualm, compunction Analogous words: *hesitation, hesitancy: doubt, *uncertainty, suspicion, mistrust: misgiving, *apprehension scruple vb *demur, bal …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • scruple — [n] misgiving, doubt anxiety, caution, censor, compunction, conscience, demur, difficulty, faltering, hesitancy, hesitation, pause, perplexity, qualm, reconsideration, reluctance, reluctancy, second thought*, squeamishness, superego, twinge,… …   New thesaurus

  • Scruple — (spr. ßkrūp l), im engl. Apothekergewicht 20 Grains (Minims) = 1,296 g und im frühern Handelsgewicht 10 Grains avdp. = 591 mg …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • scruple — I noun anxiety, apprehension, apprehensiveness, compunction, concern, cunctatio, doubt, doubtfulness, drawback, dubiety, dubiousness, dubitatio, fear, fearfulness, haesitatio, hesitancy, hesitation, misgiving, objection, qualm, question,… …   Law dictionary

  • Scruple —   [skruːpl, englisch] das, / s, Einheitenzeichen s, in Großbritannien und den USA gebräuchliche Masseneinheit des Apothecaries Systems für Drogen und Arzneimittel, 1 s = 20 grain = 1,295 978 4 g …   Universal-Lexikon

  • scruple — ► NOUN 1) a feeling of doubt as to whether an action is morally right. 2) historical a unit of weight used by apothecaries, equal to 20 grains. ► VERB ▪ hesitate to do something that one thinks may be wrong. ORIGIN from Latin scrupus, literally… …   English terms dictionary

  • scruple — [skro͞o′pəl] n. [MFr scrupule < L scrupulus, small sharp stone (hence small weight, difficulty, doubt), dim. of scrupus, sharp stone < IE * skreup < base * (s)ker , to cut] 1. a very small quantity, amount, or part 2. a) an ancient Roman …   English World dictionary

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