Centner

[Ger., a hundred-weight, from Lat. centenarius, from centum.] (Metall.) A weight that can be divided first into 100 parts, and then sub-divided into smaller parts. - In Austria, Pru ia, the remaining States of Germany, in Sweden, and in Switzerland, a weight of quantity equivalent to 12311⁄2 lbs., 1131⁄2 lbs., 120 lbs., 112-06 lbs., and 110 lbs. avoirdupois, respectively. C'en'to, ( pl . CENTOS,) n. [Lat., from Gr. kentron , a sharp pointed instrument.] In its original sense, patch-work sewed together with a needle. (Lat.) A word employed to designate a collection of separate verses from the works of one or more poets, arranged so as to form a distinct poem. The only cla ical example of a C. left to us is that of A us on i us, who composed a nuptial idyl out of Virgilian verses; in which, however, the words are also perverted into a new meaning. In his prologue to this piece A us on i us describes the C. , and gives rules for its composition. (Mus.) An opera containing a medley of musical selections on a large scale.