Carat /(kăr"ăt)/

Car·at

Carat

n.

[F. carat (cf. It. carato, OPg. quirate, Pg. & Sp. quilate), Ar. qīrāt bean or pea shell, a weight of four grains, a carat, fr. Gr. kera`tion a little horn, the fruit of the carob tree, a weight, a carat. See Horn.]

The weight by which precious stones and pearls are weighed.
A twenty-fourth part; -- a term used in estimating the proportionate fineness of gold.

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