arroba

noun

ar·​ro·​ba ə-ˈrō-bə How to pronounce arroba (audio)
1
: an old Spanish unit of weight equal to about 25 pounds
2
: an old Portuguese unit of weight equal to about 32 pounds

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, borrowed from Arabic al rubʽ "the quarter" (the unit being a quarter of a Spanish quintal), from al "the" + rubʽ "quarter," derivative of a root r-b-ʽ, whence also arbaʽa "four"

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arroba was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near arroba

Cite this Entry

“Arroba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arroba. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

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