What is weight? Sometimes, when the origin of the lay word has not been technically defined (as is done in mathematics), it helps to find its etymology. The etymology of "weight" goes back to "lift." It, therefore, appears that the weight of a body has been considered an upward force. I tell my students that weight is a force of support, pointing vertically upward. From Newton's laws it follows that weight is equal and opposite to the force (pull) of gravity on the body. It can then be shown that N = mg. What I emphasize to the students is that mg (pull of gravity) is due to the whole Earth, including India, China, the Pacific Ocean, etc.; but N (the force of support is due only to the floor which is in contact with the soles of the shoes. The agent of the force is completely different on the two sides of the equation. I do not attempt to confuse the students with corrections that might exist from the Earth's rotation, Special Relativity, General Relativity, Quantum Field Theory, String Theory, or any other such.