Auncel

The auncel (Norman: auncelle or aunsell’, lit. "little balance") was a balance scale formerly used in England. It was banned by Edward III in 1350.^[1]

In some British dialects, it is used for the informal weighing of meat by hand instead of by scales.

References

1. 25 Edward III st. 5 c. 9 (1350).

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Auncel". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.