\Ounce\, n. [F. once, fr. L. uncia a twelfth, the twelfth
part of a pound or of a foot: cf. Gr. ? bulk, mass, atom. Cf.
2d {Inch}, {Oke}.]
1. A weight, the sixteenth part of a pound avoirdupois, and
   containing 437? grains.
2. (Troy Weight) The twelfth part of a troy pound.
Note: The troy ounce contains twenty pennyweights, each of
      twenty-four grains, or, in all, 480 grains, and is the
      twelfth part of the troy pound. The troy ounce is also
      a weight in apothecaries' weight. [Troy ounce is
      sometimes written as one word, {troyounce}.]
3. Fig.: A small portion; a bit. [Obs.]
         By ounces hung his locks that he had. --Chaucer.
{Fluid ounce}. See under {Fluid}, n.

\Ounce\, n. [F. once; cf. It. lonza, Sp. onza; prob. for
lonce, taken as l'once, fr. L. lynx, Gr. ?, or an (assumed)
fem. adj. lyncea, from lynx. Cf. {Lynx}.] (Zo["o]l.)
A feline quadruped ({Felis irbis, or uncia}) resembling the
leopard in size, and somewhat in color, but it has longer and
thicker fur, which forms a short mane on the back. The ounce
is pale yellowish gray, with irregular dark spots on the neck
and limbs, and dark rings on the body. It inhabits the lofty
mountain ranges of Asia. Called also {once}.