This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[Fr.] A weight of 31/6 grains Troy, divided into four parts or carat grains, for weighing gold, diamonds, or precious stones; the twenty-fourth part of any quantity of pure gold. Goldsmiths' standard is 22 carats, which consists of 22 parts of gold, 1 of copper, and 1 of silver.
 
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