Historical units

for reference


Old English Units

Ref.: A Complete System of Practical Arithmetic, 1869
(Scottish School-Book Association)
Cloth Measure
Marked
in2 ¼ inches = 1 nail
nl4 nails = 1 quarter
qr4 quarters = 1 yard (yd)
Fl. e3 quarters = 1 Flemish ell
Eng. e5 quarters = 1 English ell
Fr. e6 quarters = 1 French ell
Sc. e37 in = 1 Scotch ell

Old Wine Measure
Cub. InchImp. Gall.Imp. pint
1 pint28·8750·104140·83
2 pints1 quart57·750·208281·67
4 quarts1 gallon2310·833116·66
To convert Old into Imp multiply by 0·83311
To convert Imp into Old multiply by 1·20032
(Ed: Imperial Pints column added)
Old Beer and Ale Measure
Cub. InchImp. Gall.Imp. pint
1 pint35 ¼0·127131·02
2 pints1 quart70 ½0·254262·03
4 quarts1 gallon2821·017058·14
To convert Old into Imp multiply by 1·01705
To convert Imp into Old multiply by 0·98324

Old Dry Measure
Cub. InchImp. Gall.
1 pint33·60·12118
2 pints1 quart67·20·24236
4 quarts1 gallon268·80·96945
8 gallons1 bushel2150·47·75557
To convert Old into Imp multiply by 0·96945
To convert Imp into Old multiply by 1·03151

Heaped Measures
For lime, coals, fish, potatoes, fruit etc
Marked
gall2 gallons = 1 peck
pks4 pecks = 1 bushel
bush3 bushels = 1 sack
sks12 sacks = 1 Chaldron (chal.)
The above mentioned goods are likewise sold by weight
cubic inchGal.
351·9361Peck
703·87221Bush
2815·488841Sack
8446·46624123Chaldron
101357·59328814436121

Yarn Measure
Cotton YarnLint Yarn
54 inches = 1 thread90 inches = 1 thread
80 threads = 1 skein or rap120 threads = 1 cut
7 skeins = 1 hank2 cuts = 1 heer
18 hanks = 1 spindle6 heers = 1 hasp
4 hasps = 1 spindle
The ounce thread reel is only 36 inches and 30 such threads make one hank