measures-art

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measures-art - 1/5/98

A listing and definition of many medieval measurements by Marc Carlson (Diarmaid).

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

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NOTE: The latest version of this article can also be found at:

www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/5923

Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 8:11:36 -0600

From: "I. Marc Carlson" <LIB_IMC at centum.utulsa.edu>

To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu

Subject: RE: Melanie's measurements

If I may be so gauche as to quote from my website:

Originally, the Imperial system of Measurement was based on that

used in the Roman Empire, and during that time, all were

standardized. After the collapse of the Empire, the definitions

of the measurements began to wander a bit until by the 18th C,

they were completely different in different countries and often

different in separate regions of the same country.

Such was the situation in France at the time of the Revolution,

and it was the need for a new standard that brought about the

introduction of the Metric System. Eventually other countries

adopted this new standard as well. It should be noted that in

the century since its adoption, the length of the meter has been

redefined a number of times until a standard that was based on a

real figure could be rationalized (I believe it's currently

something like "the distance that light travels in 1.2 x 10^-9

seconds").

I'll define the major units first:

Pound A measure of weight and mass derived from the

ancient Roman libra (which is equal to 327.25

grams), but this ancient standard has been

modified variously over the course of time, and in

different countries.

The pound consisted originally of 12 ounces,

corresponding more or less to that of troy weight.

This is still used by goldsmiths and jewellers in

stating the weight of gold, silver, and precious

stones; but as early as the thirteenth or

fourteenth century a pound of sixteen ounces was

used for more bulky commodities. This was made a

standard for general purposes of trade by Edward

III, and known as the pound aveir de peis, i.e. of

merchandise of weight, now called avoirdupois,

q.v.

At other times the pound has varied locally from

12 to 27 ounces, according to the commodity,

pounds of different weight being often used in the

same place for different articles, as bread,

butter, cheese, meat, malt, hay, wool, etc.

Foot The length of a Man's Foot. A measure of length.

From town to town, country to country, this

measurement could differ, but as a rule a French

Pied was equal to 12.8 English inches, while a

Spanish Pie was 10.96 English inches

Gallon An English measure of capacity. The imperial

gallon contains 27714 cubic inches: the winegallon

of 231 cubic inches is the standard in the United

States.

Grain The Weight of 1 Barleycorn.

Inch English. From the Latin "Uncia" (or a twelfth

part), an inch is 1/12 Foot. A measure of length.

In French, the unit of 1/12 a "foot" is the

Pounce. In Spanish, Pulgadas. nb. A 12th of a

Pounce is a Ligne, and a 12th of a Pulgadas is a

Lignas. English inches are traditionally divided

into 12 Lines. English inches are also defined as

being the length of "Three good sized barleycorns

placed end to end".

Mile Originally, the Roman lineal measure of 1,000

paces (mille passus or passuum), computed to have

been about 1,618 yards. Hence, the unit of measure

derived from this, used in the British Isles and

in other English-speaking countries. Its length

has varied considerably at different periods and

in different localities, chiefly owing to the

influence of the agricultural system of measures

with which the mile has been brought into relation

(see furlong). The legal mile in Britain and the

U.S. is now 1,760 yards (5280 feet). The Irish

mile of 2,240 yards is still in rustic use. The

obsolete Scottish mile was longer than the

English, and probably varied according to time and

place; one of the values given for it is 1,976

yards.

Ounce English. From the Latin "Uncia" (or a twelfth

part), an ounce is 1/12 Pound (or was originally,

and is still in "troy" weight). A measurement of

weight.

Ell English. From the Latin "Ulna". A unit of linear

measure equal to 45 inches. The word ell seems to

have been variously taken to represent the

distance from the elbow or from the shoulder to

the wrist or to the finger-tips, while in some

cases a "double ell" has superseded the original

measure, and has taken its name.

English ell = 45 in.

Scots = 37.2 in.

Flemish = 27 in.

Furlong Originally the distance an Ox could pull a plow

before needing to rest, ie., "a furrow long". As

early as the 9th c. it was regarded as the

equivalent of the Roman stadium, which was 18 of a

Roman mile; and hence furlong has always been used

as a name for the eighth part of an English mile,

whether this coincided with the agricultural

measure so called or not. The present statute

furlong is 220 yards, and is equal both to the

eighth part of a statute mile, and to the side of

a square of 10 statute acres.

League An itinerary measure of distance, varying in

different countries, but usually estimated roughly

at about 3 miles; app. never in regular use in

England, but often occurring in poetical or

rhetorical statements of distance.

Although the league appears never to have been an

English measure, leuca occurs somewhat frequently

in Anglo-Latin law-books (Bracton, Fleta, etc.);

it is disputed whether in these works it means one

mile or two.

Mark A denomination of weight formerly employed

(chiefly for gold and silver) throughout western

Europe; its actual weight varied considerably, but

it was usually regarded as equivalent to 8 ounces

(= either 23 or 12 of a pound, according to the

meaning given to the latter term).

Nail A measure of weight for wool, beef, etc., usually

equal to eight pounds = clove

A measure of land.

A measure of length for cloth; 2.14 inches, or the

1/16th part of a yard. "The precise origin of

this sense is not clear. The use of the nail in

early examples suggests that one sixteenth from

the end of the yard-stick may have been marked by

a nail." (OED)

Pint A measure of capacity for liquids (also for corn

and other dry substances of powdery or granular

nature), equal to 1/2 a quart or 1/8 of a gallon;

of varying content at different times and places.

Pound, Tower (12 "tower" oz.) used as a standard from Ethelred

until Henry VIII abolished it in favor of the Troy

Pound.

Pound, Merchantile

(16 "Tower" oz.) is *different* from the

Avoirdepois Pound (of 16 A. oz), being a ratio of

36/35 MP/AP.

Quart An English measure of capacity, one-fourth of a

gallon, or two pints.

Sack of Wool Defined by Edward III to be equal to the weight of

26 times the Big Rock used to measure the "Aveir

de peis" weight. That specific rock, or "Stone"

weighed (at that time 14 pounds) (n.b., a sack of

wool was equal in weight to 1/6th a cartload of

lead) or 364 pounds aveir de peis.

Ton Tun. A unit used in measuring the carrying

capacity or burden of a ship, the amount of cargo,

freight, etc. Originally, the space occupied by a

tun cask of wine. Now, for the purposes of

registered tonnage, the space of 100 cubic feet.

For purposes of freight, usually the space of 40

cubic feet, unless that bulk would weigh more than

20 cwt., in which case freight is charged by

weight. But the expression "ton of cargo" is also

used with regard to special packages which are

conventionally assumed as going so many packages

to the ton.

Yard 1. A unit of linear measure equal to equal to 3

feet or 36 inches. Also the corresponding measure

of area (square yard = 9 square feet) or of

solidity (cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). Aka Verge.

NOT to be confused with: 2. A unit of linear

measure equal to 16 1/2 feet or 5 1/2 yards (but

varying locally); AKA rod, pole, or perch.

Sometimes distinguished as land-yard.

Hand English 1. A unit of linear measure, formerly

taken as equal to three inches, but now to four; a

palm, a hand-breadth. Now used only in giving the

height of horses and the like.

Finger English 1. A unit of linear measure equal to the

breadth of a finger, or 3/4 inch. 2. (US) A unit

of linear measure equal to the length of a finger,

or about 4 1/2 inches.

Span English. Generally the distance from the tip of

the thumb to the tip of the little finger, or

sometimes to the tip of the forefinger, when the

hand is fully extended; the space equivalent to

this taken as a measure of length, averaging nine

inches.

Pace A vague measure of distance with two widely

differing definitions: 1. Historically, the

distance between successive stationary positions

of the same foot or two "Steps", or about 5 feet

(60 inches). 2. The distance from where one foot

is set down to where the other is set down, or

about 2 1/2 feet (30 inches).

Cup 1. A measure of capacity for liquids (also for

corn and other dry substances of powdery or

granular nature), equal to half a quart or 18 of a

gallon; of varying content at different times and

places. 2. A vessel holding a definite quantity

(usually four ounces), used to receive the blood

in blood-letting.

Pint 1. English. The pint is equal to 34.66 cubic

inches. 2.(US) The standard pint is that of the

old wine measure, equal to 28.78 cubic inches. 3.

The old Scotch pint was equal to about 3 imperial

pints (104.2 cubic inches). In local use also a

weight, e.g. of butter in East Anglia = 1 1/4lb.

Dram A weight, orig. the ancient Greek drachma; hence,

in Apothecaries' weight, a weight of 60 grains =

1/8 of an ounce; in Avoirdupois weight, of 27.13

grains = 1/16 of an ounce; = drachm

Gill 1. A measure for liquids, containing one fourth of

a standard pint. 2. In many districts the gill is

equivalent to a half-pint, the quarter-pint being

called a jack.

Weights:

1 Grain (1/7000th of a pound Avoirdupois) = .0648 grams

1 Penny Weight = 1.55 grams

1 Dram (1/16 of an ounce Avoirdupois) = 1.77 grams

1 Dram (1/8 of an ounce Troy) = 3.89 grams

1 Shilling = 18.67 grams

1 Ore (an old Anglo-Saxon unit of Measure) = 23.3 grams

1 "Uncia" = 27.2 grams

1 Ounce (Avoirdupois) = 28.4 grams

1 Ounce (Tower) = 29.2 grams

1 Once (French) = 30.6 grams

1 Ounce ("Scotch Troy") = 30.8 grams

1 Ounce (Troy) = 31.1 grams

1 "Tron" Ounce (Edinburgh/Scots) = 38.97 grams

1 Mark (French) = 245 grams

1 Pound (Italian - low end) = 300 grams

1 Roman Libre (12 Unciae) = 326 grams

1 Pound (12 Tower Ounces) = 349.9 grams

1 Pound (Italian - high end) = 350 grams

1 "Livre de Charlemagne" (12 Onces) = 367.5 grams

1 Pound (12 Troy Ounces) = 373.25 grams

1 Pound (16 Avoirdupois Ounces) = 453.6 grams

1 Pound (Hapsburg? low end) = 459 grams

1 Pound (Mercantile; 16 Tower Oz.) = 466.6 grams

1 Pound (Hapsburg? high end) = 469 grams

1 Livre (French; 16 Onces) = 490 grams

1 Pound ("Scotch"; 16 "Troy Ounces") = 493.1 grams

1 Pound ("Dutch"; 16 Troy Ounces) = 497.6 grams

1 Pfund (Modern) = 500 grams

1 ? Pound (1/100 of a Hundredweight) = 508 grams

1 "Tron" Pound (Edinburgh/Scots) = 623.5 grams

1 Mark (English) = 746.6 grams

1 Clove (7 pounds Avoirdupois) = 3175.2 grams (3.2 kg)

1 Stone (12 Mercantile (listed in 1303)) = 5599.2 grams (5.6 kg)

1 Stone (14 pounds Avoirdupois) = 6350.4 grams (6.4 kg)

1 "Quarter" weight = 12700.4 grams (12.7 kg)

1 Fotmal (72 lbs Avoirdupois) = 32659.2 grams (32.7 kg)

1 ("Quarter Sack") = 41277.6 grams (41.3 kg)

1 "Hundredweight" = 50803.2 grams (50.8 kg)

1 Sack (???) = 163296 grams (163 kg)

1 Sack (Wool) = 165110 grams (165 kg)

1 Ton (2000 lbs Avoirdupois) = 907200 grams (907 kg)

1 "Cartload of lead" = 979776 grams (980 kg)

1 "Ton" (2240 lbs Avoirdupois) = 1016064 grams (1016 kg)

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I assume that the modern Metric Tonne is based on the old "Long Ton"

A ton is also a measure of 40 cubic feet, either as carrying capacity, or

or 40 cubic feet of solid wood.

Marc/Diarmaid