What is the meaning of Joule?

A unit of work which is equal to 107 units of work in the C. G. S. system of units (ergs), and is practically equivalent to the energy expended in one second by an electric current of one ampere in a resistance of one ohm. One joule is approximately equal to 0.738 foot pounds.

Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), via OPTED