What is the origin of the abbreviation for pounds?

Answer 1

The "lb" is short for the Latin libra, meaning "scale, balance". The s is sometimes, but not always, added because some people feel uncomfortable without it when it's referring to a plural quantity. (Though most people are not uncomfortable with using the singular in phrases like "five foot two"... English doesn't always make sense.)

Answer 2

There is no abbreviation of pounds in French because pounds simply don't exist. However, the closest translation, for the measure as well as for the money, is 'livre

Answer 3

lb is the common abbreviation