Understanding the Scruple: A Unit of Weight and Metaphor

Scruple is a unit of weight or mass, typically used in apothecaries' measurements. It is equal to 1/20 of a dram, or 1/480 of an ounce.

In modern usage, the term "scruple" is often used figuratively to refer to a small amount or a trace amount of something, such as a scruple of doubt or a scruple of evidence.

The word "scruple" comes from the Latin word "scrupulus," which means "a small stone" or "a grain." This refers to the fact that apothecaries originally used small stones or grains to measure out their ingredients. Over time, the term "scruple" came to be used as a unit of measurement in its own right, rather than just a way of describing the size of a measurement.

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