Main Entry:

¹scale

Pronunciation:

\ˈskāl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English scole, scale bowl, scale of a balance, from Old Norse skāl; akin to Old Norse skel shell — more at shell

Date:

14th century

1 a: either pan or tray of a balance b: a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends —usually used in plural2: an instrument or machine for weighing