This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rhialto (talk | contribs) at 06:37, 11 November 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 06:37, 11 November 2006 by Rhialto (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In Finland, approximate units of measure derived from body parts and were used for a long time, some being later standardised for the purpose of commerce. Some Swedish, and later some Russian units have also been used.
The measurements were first standardized in the law of 1665 and revised 1735. Before that, the measurements varied from town to town. The units used in town of Porvoo were unusually large; the proverb mitata Porvoon mitalla (to measure in Porvoo units) means to measure in excess or generously.
Certain units were standardized to Metric in 1861; Finland converted fully to Metric system 1880.
Length
| Table of length units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| linja | 1/144 | ~2.06 mm | The width of barleycorn. | |
| tuuma | 1/12 | ~24.74 mm | The width of tumb. Metrinen tuuma = 25 mm. | |
| vaaksa | 1/2 | ~148.44 mm | 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 | The length of human foot. | |
| kyynärä | 2 | ~593.76 mm | The distance from the elbow to the fingertips. Metrinen kyynärä = 500 mm. | |
| syli | 6 | ~1.8 m | Fathom; the distance between the fingertips of both hands when the arms are raised horizontally on the sides. In maritime, syli is 1/1000th of nautical mile (1.852 m). | |
| vakomitta | 120 | ~213.6 m | The furrow's length on field. | |
| virsta | 600 | ~1068.84 m | 2672 m (Swedish) 1068.84 m (Finnish). | |
| peninkulma (old) | 3000 | ~5344.2 m | Before 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. | |
| peninkulma (new) | 6000 | ~10.6884 km | Before 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. | |
| päivämatka | 12,000 | ~20 km | 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 | 3,926 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyrityinen for taxation. | |||
| äyrinmaa | 11,777 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyri for taxation. | |||
| penninginmaa | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| kannu | 2 | ~2.6172 L | Also called pikkukappa (exactly 2.5 L). | |
| kappa | 4 | ~5.4961 L | ||
| 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
- 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 between the reindeer needs to urinate. Today used to describe something that is at a very obscure distance away. Poronkusemaa kuukaudessa furlongs per fortnight
- tusina 12
- toltti 12 (lumber)
- tiu 20 (eggs)
- buntta 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 is extremely distant or unaccessible