Algerian units of measurement

A number of different, unique Algerian units of measurement were once used in that country, including for length, mass, and capacity, before 1843. After that, Algeria adopted the French system of units (i.e., the metric system).[1][2][1][3]

Length

Before the 1843 changeover, different units were used to measure length. One pic (dzera à torky) was equal either to 0.64 m[1] or 0.623 m[3]), while a different pic (dzera à rabry) was equal to 0.48 m[1] or 0.467 m[3]). Some other units are given below:[1][3]

1 termin = 1/8 pic

1 rebia = 1/4 pic

1 nus = 1/2 pic.

Mass

A number of different units were used to measure mass. One ukkia (ounce) was equal to 0.03413 kg. One metical (metsquat) was equal to about 0.0047 kg. Some other units are given below:[1][4]

1 rottolo à thary = 16 ukkia

1 rottolo à khadhary = 18 ukkia

1 rottolo à kebyr = 24 ukkia

1 cantar = 100 rottolo (cantar(kebyr) = 100 rottolo à thary, cantar(khaldary) = 100 rottolo à khadhary, and cantar (thary) = 100 rottolo à thary[4]).

In addition to above units, one gyral was equal to 207 mg.[4]

Capacity

Two different systems were used to measure capacity: one for dry measure, and another for liquid measure.[1] Some units used to measure dry capacities are given below:[1]

Dry
1 caffiso (or calisse[3]) = 317.47 l (Note: in an old publication, one caffiso was equalised to 8 saah, even though the given values are mismatched.[5])

1 saah (or ssah[3]) = 58 l

1 tarri (or tarie[3]) = 1/12 caffiso.

Liquid
One khoull (or Khoul or kolleh[3]) was equal to 16 2/3 l (1 hectoliter = 6 Khoull[6] ) or 16 l.[1] One Metalli (oil) was equal to 17.90 l.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 2.
  2. ↑ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  4. 1 2 3 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  5. ↑ Winslow, E.S. (1872). The Universal Modern Cambist, and Foreign and Domestic Commercial Calculator; or, A Dictionary of Numerical, Arithmetical, and Mathematical Rules for Business-men, Merchants, Bankers, Brokers, and Accounts. E.S. Winslow (Stereotyped by C.J. Peters and Son). pp. a44.
  6. ↑ Winslow, E.S. (1872). The Universal Modern Cambist, and Foreign and Domestic Commercial Calculator; or, A Dictionary of Numerical, Arithmetical, and Mathematical Rules for Business-men, Merchants, Bankers, Brokers, and Accounts. E.S. Winslow (Stereotyped by C.J. Peters and Son). pp. a37.
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