Early Modern Measurements: Difference between revisions

(added ounce, dram, bolded)
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==Wet Amounts==
==Wet Amounts==
 
* '''Tun:''' 950-960 litres, or approximately 252 gallons during the early modern period.   
'''Tun:''' 950-960 litres, or approximately 252 gallons during the early modern period.   
* '''pipe or butt:''' 1/2 of a tun, 475-480 liters, or 126 gallons
 
* '''puncheon:''' 1/3 of a tun,  316-320 litres, or 84 gallons
'''pipe or butt:''' 1/2 of a tun, 475-480 liters, or 126 gallons
* '''hogshead:''' 1/4 of a tun,  237-242 litres, or 63 gallons
 
* '''tierce:''' 1/6 of a tun, 158-160 litres, or 42 gallons
'''puncheon:''' 1/3 of a tun,  316-320 litres, or 84 gallons
* '''barrel:''' 1/8 of a tun, 118-120 litres, or 31 1/2 gallons
 
* '''rundlet''': 1/14 of a tun, 68-69 litres, or 18 gallons
'''hogshead:''' 1/4 of a tun,  237-242 litres, or 63 gallons
* '''quart''':
 
* '''ounce, fluid ounce, fl oz (℥, fl ℥, f℥, ƒ ℥):'''  The fluid ounce was originally the volume occupied by one ounce (in weight) of some substance.
'''tierce:''' 1/6 of a tun, 158-160 litres, or 42 gallons
** Comparison to modern amounts: In Britain today, an imperial fluid ounce is 1/20 of an imperial pint; a US fluid ounce is 1/16 of a US fluid pint (about 4% bigger than the imperial fluid ounce). The Imperial measurements were codified in 1824.  
 
* '''dram or drachm:''' 1/8 of a fluid ounce
'''barrel:''' 1/8 of a tun, 118-120 litres, or 31 1/2 gallons
 
'''rundlet''': 1/14 of a tun, 68-69 litres, or 18 gallons
 
'''quart''':
 
'''ounce, fluid ounce, fl oz (℥, fl ℥, f℥, ƒ ℥):'''  The fluid ounce was originally the volume occupied by one ounce (in weight) of some substance. In Britain today, an imperial fluid ounce is 1/20 of an imperial pint; a US fluid ounce is 1/16 of a US fluid pint (about 4% bigger than the imperial fluid ounce).  
 
'''dram or drachm:''' 1/8 of a fluid ounce
 
Comparisons:
Comparisons:


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==Weight==
==Weight==
* The '''ounce''' (abbreviated '''oz'''; apothecary symbol: '''℥'''): the apothecaries' ounce is equivalent in weight to the troy ounce
** in modern terms, 31.1g, not the ~28.3g of the avoirdupois ounce.


The '''ounce''' (abbreviated '''oz'''; apothecary symbol: '''℥'''): the apothecaries' ounce is equivalent in weight to the troy ounce (in modern terms, 31.1g, not the ~28.3g of the avoirdupois ounce).
==Distance==
==Distance==

Revision as of 08:55, 5 April 2018

Measurement before the enlightenment and the age of standardization varied widely. While some terms had wide adoption, others were highly regional and idiosyncratic. The following equivalencies are meant to aid in estimations.


Dry Amounts

Wet Amounts

  • Tun: 950-960 litres, or approximately 252 gallons during the early modern period. 
  • pipe or butt: 1/2 of a tun, 475-480 liters, or 126 gallons
  • puncheon: 1/3 of a tun, 316-320 litres, or 84 gallons
  • hogshead: 1/4 of a tun, 237-242 litres, or 63 gallons
  • tierce: 1/6 of a tun, 158-160 litres, or 42 gallons
  • barrel: 1/8 of a tun, 118-120 litres, or 31 1/2 gallons
  • rundlet: 1/14 of a tun, 68-69 litres, or 18 gallons
  • quart:
  • ounce, fluid ounce, fl oz (℥, fl ℥, f℥, ƒ ℥): The fluid ounce was originally the volume occupied by one ounce (in weight) of some substance.
    • Comparison to modern amounts: In Britain today, an imperial fluid ounce is 1/20 of an imperial pint; a US fluid ounce is 1/16 of a US fluid pint (about 4% bigger than the imperial fluid ounce). The Imperial measurements were codified in 1824.
  • dram or drachm: 1/8 of a fluid ounce

Comparisons:

1 ton = 2 butts, 3 puncheons, 4 hogsheads, 6 tierces, 8 barrels, or 14 rundlets

Weight

  • The ounce (abbreviated oz; apothecary symbol: ℥): the apothecaries' ounce is equivalent in weight to the troy ounce
    • in modern terms, 31.1g, not the ~28.3g of the avoirdupois ounce.

Distance