poundal

[ poun-dl ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the foot-pound-second unit of force, equal to the force that produces an acceleration of one foot per second per second on a mass of one pound. : pdl

poundal

/ ˈpaʊndəl /

noun

1. the fps unit of force; the force that imparts an acceleration of 1 foot per second per second to a mass of 1 pound. 1 poundal is equivalent to 0.1382 newton or 1.382 × 10 ⁴dynes pdl

Word History and Origins

Origin of poundal¹

First recorded in 1875–80; pound ² + -al ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of poundal¹

C19: from pound ² + quintal

Example Sentences

Two absolute units of force are in common use in dynamics, the poundal and the dyne, the latter being the absolute unit in the C.G.S. system.

From Project Gutenberg