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Contents |
Length
| Table of length units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| linja | 1/144 | ~2.06 mm | ~0.081 in | The width of barleycorn. |
| tuuma | 1/12 | ~24.74 mm | ~0.97 in | The width of thumb. Metrinen tuuma = 25 mm. |
| vaaksa | 1/2 | ~148.44 mm | ~5.84 in | The distance between the tips of little finger and thumb, when the fingers are fully extended. Today defined as 150 mm. |
| jalka | 1 | ~296.9 mm | ~11.68 in | The length of a human foot. |
| kyynärä | 2 | ~593.76 mm | ~1.94 ft | The distance from the elbow to the fingertips. The usual unit on measuring everyday lengths. Metrinen kyynärä = 500 mm. |
| syli | 6 | ~1.8 m | ~5.9 ft | Fathom; the distance between the fingertips of both hands when the arms are raised horizontally to the sides. In maritime, syli is 1/1000th of nautical mile (1.852 m). |
| vakomitta | 120 | ~213.6 m | ~700.78 ft | The furrow's length on field. |
| virsta | 600 | ~1068.84 m | ~0.66 mi | 2672 m (Swedish) 1068.84 m (Finnish). Related to the Russian verst. |
| peninkulma (old) | 3000 | ~5344.2 m | ~3.32 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| peninkulma (new) | 6000 | ~10.6884 km | ~6.64 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| päivämatka | 12,000 | ~20 km | ~12.42 mi | The distance of one day's travel. |
Maritime units
- meripeninkulma – 1852 m. Same as nautical mile. One angular minute at equator.
- kaapelinmitta – 185.2 m. 1/10 of a nautical mile.
- syli – 1.852 m. 1/1000 of a nautical mile. Seldom used.
- solmu – nautical miles per hour. Speed unit.
Obsolete:
- merisekunti* – 30.8666 m. 1/60 of nautical mile
- meritertia* – 0.51444 m. 1/3600 of nautical mile
Area
| Table of area units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| kannunala | ~88.15 m² | 1000 square jalka. | ||
| kapanala | ~154 m² | 1/32 of tynnyrinala. The area (of field) that could be sown with one bushel of grain. | ||
| panninala | ~2464 m² | 16 kapanala, 1/2 of tynnyrinala. The area (of field) that could be sown with one panni of grain. | ||
| tynnyrinala | ~4936.5 m² | The area (of field) that could be sown with one barrel of grain. | ||
| äyrityisenmaa | 1 | 3,926 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyrityinen for taxation. | ||
| äyrinmaa | 3 | 11,777 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyri for taxation. | ||
| penninginmaa | 125 | 490,790 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one penninki for taxation. | ||
Volume
Dry measure
| Table of volume (dry) units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| jumpru | 1/16 | ~8.18 ml | From Swedish jungfru, virgin. Also for liquids. | |
| kortteli | 1/4 | ~327.15 ml | Used for both length (14.845 cm, same as vaaksa) and volume. Name derives from Swedish kvartdel, meaning "quarter". As unit of length 1/4 of kyynärä. | |
| tuoppi | 1 | ~1.3274 L | Literally tankard. Also for liquids. | |
| kannu | 2 | ~2.6172 L | Also called pikkukappa (exactly 2.5 L). | |
| kappa | 4 | ~5.4961 L | Still in use (as exactly 5 liters) as kappa or isokappa at market places to measure potatoes. | |
| nelikko | 32 | ~43.986 L | Used for dry measure. | |
| panni | 64 | ~87.96 L | Used for dry measure. | |
| tynnyri | 128 | ~175 L | Barrel for dry measure. | |
| lästi | 1536 | ~2110 L | Used for dry measure. | |
Liquid measure
| Table of volume (liquid) units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| jumpru | 1/16 | ~8.18 ml | From Swedish jungfru, virgin. | |
| kortteli | 1/4 | ~327.15 ml | Used for both length (14.845 cm, same as vaaksa) and volume. Name derives from Swedish kvartdel, meaning "quarter". As unit of length 1/4 of kyynärä. | |
| tuoppi | 1 | ~1.3274 L | Literally tankard. Used for liquids. | |
| kannu | 2 | ~2.6172 L | Also called pikkukappa (exactly 2.5 L). | |
| kappa | 4 | ~5.4961 L | Also for dry substances. | |
| ankkuri | 30 | ~39.26 L | Used for liquid measure. | |
| tynnyri | 96 | ~125.6 L | Barrel for liquid measure. | |
| lästi | 1152 | ~1507 L | Used for liquid measure. | |
Mass
| Table of mass units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| luoti | 1/16 | ~13.95 g | The weight of a musket ball. | |
| unssi | 1/8 | ~27.9 g | ||
| markka | 1 | ~213.8 g | Name of the Finnish monetary unit 1861-2002 | |
| naula | 2 | ~425.6 g | metrinen naula = 500 g | |
| leiviskä | 40 | ~8.5004 kg | metrinen leiviskä = 10 kg | |
| sentneri | 200 | ~42.56 kg | 1 Senttaali = 200 metrinen naula = 100 kg. | |
| kippunta | 800 | ~170 kg | ||
Miscellaneous
- askel (pace) – Roughly one meter for an adult male - a rough but convenient way to measure distances while walking.
- kivenheitto (Throw of a rock) – 100 kyynärä (approx 50 m). Today to describe something to be very near.
- poronkusema – (approximately 7.5 km). A Lappish measurement of distance; the distance a reindeer can travel before needing to stop to urinate. Today used to describe something that is at a very obscure distance away.
- Poronkusemaa kuukaudessa – similar to furlongs per fortnight
- tusina – 12
- toltti – 12 (lumber)
- tiu – 20 (eggs)
- puntti – 20 (matchboxes)
- kerpo – 31 (lampreys; 30 as a bunch and one for tying)
- krossi – 144 (pencils)
- kiihtelys – 40 (squirrel pelts)
- riisi – 500 (paper sheets)
- tonni – 1000 (usually refers to 1000 kg, but can refer also anything of 1000, especially money)
- motti – 1 m³ (firewood or waste paper)
- valovuosi (light-year) – to describe something which is extremely distant or unaccessible
See also
External links
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