1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly eleven ounces Troy weight. It was divided into twelve ounces.
2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce.
ASA As"a, n. Etym: [NL. asa, of oriental origin; cf. Per. aza mastic, Ar. asa healing, isa remedy.]
Defn: An ancient name of a gum.
ASAFETIDA; ASAFOETIDA
As`a*fet"i*da, As`a*foet"i*da, n. Etym: [Asa + L. foetidus fetid.]
Defn: The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East India. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [Written also assafoetida.]
ASAPHUS
As"a*phus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of trilobites found in the Lower Silurian formation.
See Illust. in Append.
ASARABACCA
As`a*ra*bac"ca, n. Etym: [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.]
(Bot.)
Defn: An acrid herbaceous plant (Asarum Europæum), the leaves and roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in cephalic snuffs.