Cwt is an abbreviation for "hundredweight," a unit of weight commonly used in various industries and trade. The term "cwt" originated from the Old English term "cuntwaruht," which literally translates to "a hundredweight." It is primarily used in the United States and United Kingdom.
In the US, a hundredweight, or cwt, is equivalent to 100 pounds, whereas in the UK, it equals 112 pounds. The unit is often used to measure the weight of commodities, goods, and livestock, such as grains, meats, and minerals, particularly those traded in bulk quantities. It provides a convenient intermediary between smaller weight measurements like pounds or kilograms and larger measurements like tons.
The cwt is widely employed in agriculture, manufacturing, and freight industries to determine price, quantity, and transportation requirements. For instance, in agricultural markets, grain traders may quote prices per cwt when buying or selling crops. Freight companies may charge rates based on weight per cwt, especially for heavy and bulky cargo. Additionally, the cwt is used to calculate fees in livestock markets, particularly when pricing animals such as cattle or pigs.
Overall, cwt serves as a practical unit of measurement, contributing to efficient and standardized weight calculations across a wide range of industries.
