A*poth"e*ca*ry (?), n.; pl.
Apothecaries. [OE. apotecarie, fr. LL.
apothecarius, fr. L. apotheca storehouse, Gr. apo,
fr. ? to put away; ? from + ? to put: cf. F. apothicaire, OF.
apotecaire. See Thesis.] One who prepares and sells
drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes.
☞ In England an apothecary is one of a privileged class of
practitioners -- a kind of sub-physician. The surgeon apothecary is the
ordinary family medical attendant. One who sells drugs and makes up
prescriptions is now commonly called in England a druggist or a
pharmaceutical chemist.
Apothecaries' weight, the system of weights by
which medical prescriptions were formerly compounded. The pound and ounce
are the same as in Troy weight; they differ only in the manner of
subdivision. The ounce is divided into 8 drams, 24 scruples, 480 grains.
See Troy weight.