scales
天秤
解説 Definition
scales は scale（はかり、天秤）の複数形です。重さを量る道具を指し、特に左右の皿で重さを比べる天秤を表すことがあります。
Scales are an instrument used for weighing objects or people. The plural form is commonly used for a single weighing device, especially one with two pans for comparing weights, as well as for certain household or commercial weighing machines.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
scales は「はかり・天秤」の scale の複数形ですが、道具一台でも左右の皿を持つ天秤や体重計を慣用的に scales と呼びます。古ノルド語の「鉢・皿」と、天秤の二つの皿を結び付けましょう。weigh fruit on the scales、place coins on the scales の組み合わせが実用的です。
Connect scales with the two pans of a traditional balance. The weighing sense developed from a word for a bowl or pan, so picture two small bowls hanging on opposite sides while fruit or coins are weighed. Although scales looks like an ordinary plural of scale, English often uses the plural expression for one complete weighing instrument, just as some paired objects have plural names. Useful combinations include use the scales, put something on the scales, and weigh fruit on the scales. Context separates this meaning from scales on a fish or scales meaning systems of measurement.
例文
The old shop used scales to weigh fruit.
その古い店では果物の重さを量るために天秤を使っていました。
She placed the coins on the scales.
彼女は硬貨を天秤に載せました。
The museum displayed brass scales from the nineteenth century.
その博物館には19世紀の真ちゅう製の天秤が展示されていました。
scales の類義語・関連語
類義語
scales の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古ノルド語skál（鉢・皿）に由来し、天秤の皿の形から「秤・天秤」の意味に発展した。ラテン語scalae（はしご）とも関連し、目盛りのある「尺度・規模」の意味も生まれた。関連語：scale（規模）、escalate（段階的に上がる）。一つの語が「計量」と「段階」の両方を担う多義語。
In the sense of a weighing instrument, scales comes from scale and reflects an Old Norse word, skál, meaning a bowl or drinking vessel. The connection arose from the pan or dish used on a balance. English also has scale senses involving graded measurement or steps that are historically associated with Latin scalae, “ladder” or “stairs.” These histories helped produce several meanings now sharing the spelling scale, though the weighing sense is especially tied to the balance pan.
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