Dictionary

metric martyr en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (UK) A shopkeeper who is penalized for selling goods using the imperial system primarily or exclusively, in violation of the Weights and Measures Acts.
   • The directives were implemented in the United Kingdom by a series of subordinate instruments, amending among others the Weight and Measures Act 1985. The 'metric martyrs' had refused to use the new and continental measurements. 2006, Monica Claes, The National Courts' Mandate in the European Constitution, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 238:
   • He was charged, convicted, and given a criminal record. Other metric martyrs followed in his footsteps, dragged to the dock and made criminals for giving their customers what they wanted. 2012, Michael Dobbs, A Sentimental Traitor, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:
   • Did they hold out for their heritage of Ls. Cs and Vs? Did they have their numeral martyrs as we have our metric martyrs? 2002, New Statesman:

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