English wool used a 560 yard skein - if 4 skeins of the finished yarn weighed 16 oz that would be 4ply yarn. It would be - probably - 2/8 worsted count as it would be 2 ends twisted together of wool spun to 8 skeins to the pound.
Worsted count, Cotton count and High Bulk Acrylic count are all being phased out in favour of the metric count - though it is less useful to hand knitters as the density of the yarn is not taken into account - but industry seems to be coping just fine.
Wraps per inch is something I only came across when I started dealing with hand spinners.
I have a fishing line measurer and accurate scales from the time I used to make yarn to sell and needed to ensure that I was getting the correct length per weight.
Anne the Pleater
I presume to dictate to no man what he shall eat or drink or wherewithal he shall be clothed."
-- The Hon. Stuart Ruaidri Erskine, The Kilt & How to Wear It, 1901.
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