Weights and Measures
Since fantasy typically has a historical basis metric measurements just don't fit in well most of the time and there are measurements that are no longer commonly used even in the US. This lists all the measurements I've been able to track down with the metric equivalents if I found any for those of you more comfortable with the metric system. I haven't included temperature since not only did few people have access to thermometers in the past but the ferenheit system dates to after the Rennaissance.
Capacity Measure
~Teaspoon = 5 ml *primarily for cooking
~Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 ml *primarily for cooking
~Ounce = 2 tablespoons = 30 ml
~Cup= 8 ounces = 240 ml *primarily for cooking
~Gill = 5 ounces = 150 ml
~Pint = 5 gills = .568 liter
~Quart = 2 pints = 1.136 liters
~Gallon = 4 quarts = 4.55 liters
~Firkin = 9 gallons = 40.95 liters
~Barrel = 31 ½ gallons = 143.33 liters <
~Hogshead = 2 barrels = 286.65 liters
~Butt = 2 hogsheads = 573.3 liters
~Tun = 7 barrels = 1003 liters
~Peck = 8 quarts = 9.1 liters
~Kenning = 2 pecks = 18.2 liters
~Bushel = 2 kennings = 36.4 liters
~Chaldron = 32 bushels = 1164 liters
~Last = 80 bushels = 2912 liters
Linear Measure
~Inch = 2.54 cm
~Hand = 4 inches = 10.16 cm *mainly used for measuring horses a 17 hand horse is 68 inches from the ground to the withers (top of the shoulder)
~Link = 7.92 inches = 20.17 cm
~Span = 9 inches = 22.86 cm
~Foot = 12 inches = 30.48 cm
~Cubit = 18 inches = 45.72 cm
~Yard = 3 feet = 91.44 cm
~Ell = 45 inches = 1.14 m
~Rod, Pole or Perch = 25 links = 5½ yards = 5 m
~Chain = 22 yards = 66 feet = 100 Links = 20 m
~Furlong = 10 chains = 220 yards = 201 m
~Mile = 8 furlongs = 5280 feet = 1.61 km
~League = 3 miles = 4.83 km
Apothecary Dry Measurements
~Grain
~Scruple = 20 grains
~Dram = 3 scruples
~Ounce = 8 drams
~Pound = 12 ounces
Apothecary Fluid Measurements
~Minim
~Fluidram = 60 minims
~Fluid Ounce = 8 fluidram
~Pint = 16 fluid ounce
~Quart = 2 pints
Cubic Measurement
~Cubic inch
~Cubic foot = 1728 cubic inches
~Cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
~Cord of wood = 128 cubic feet
~Perch of stone = 128 cubic feet (16½x1½x1 feet)
Nautical Measurements
~Fathom = 6 feet = 1.83 m
~Cable = 120 fathoms = 219 m
~Nautical Mile (Knot) = 6080 feet = 1.85 km *this is prior to
~League = 3 knots = 5.55 km
Weight
~Dram = 1.77 g
~Ounce = 16 drams = 28.38 g
~Pound = 16 oz = 0.454 kg
~Stone = 14 lb = 6.36 kg
~Quarter = 2 stone = 12.71 kg
~Hundredweight, Gross, Long = 4 quarters = 112 lb = 50.85
~Ton = 20 hundredweight = 2240 lb =1016 kg *this is the old british tons in the US it's usually 2000 lbs
Troy Weight *For gold, silver & jewels
~Grain
~Pennyweight = 24 grains
~Ounce = 20 pennyweight
~Pound = 12 ounces
~Karat(gold) = 1/24 part pure gold
~Point = .000064 oz = 2 mg
~Carat(gems) =100 points= .0064 oz = 200 mg
Area Measure
~Square Inch = 6.45 cm
~Square foot = 144 sq inches =929 sq cm
~Square yard = 9 sq feet = 1296 sq inches = .84 sq m
~Square Pole(Perch) = 30¼ sq yards = 25.41 sq m
~Rood = ¼ acre = 1,210 sq yards = 40 sq poles = 1016 sq m
~Acre = 4 roods = 10 sq chains = 4840 sq yards = Statute acre = 0.40 hectare
~Virgate(yardland) = 30 acres = 12 hectares
~Hide = 4 virgates = 48 hectares
~Square mile = 640 acres = 2.59 sq km
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