CARACT

CARACT is also a certain weight which goldsmiths and jewellers use wherewith to weigh precious stones and pearls.—In this sense, the word is by some supposed to be derived from the Greek χαρακτιον, a fruit which the Latins call filiqua, and we carob bean; each of which may weigh above four grains of wheat, whence the Latin filiqua has been used for a weight of four grains. This carat weighs four grains, but they are sometimes lighter than the grains of other weights. Each of these grains is subdivided into $\backslash frac\{1\}\{4\}$, $\backslash frac\{1\}\{8\}$, $\backslash frac\{1\}\{16\}$, &c.