NON-STANDARD MEASUREMENT UNITS

[Kandinskyesque]

For as long as I can remember, newspapers in the UK have used unusual measurement units.

Expensive liquids are measured in malt whisky, for example printer ink 100 times more expensive than malt whiskey.

Areas have two units of measurements, football(soccer) pitches...

1.5-1.7 acres = 1 football pitches (alternatively 16 tennis courts)
1 oil tanker= 3.5 football pitches.

...and Wales.

1 UK = 10 Wales
1 Bulgaria = 5.25 Wales
1 Alabama = 6.5 Wales

I'm aware in the US, certain objects are measured in Empire State buildings but what other non-standard units of measurement are used throughout the world?

 

[ChicknPickn]

Where I grew up, you would go "a ways" to get to the next crossroads. Could be a mile. Could be five miles.

 

[StoneH]

I picked up "skosh" when I lived in Okinawa . . . short for "sukoshi" meaning "a little bit". "Would you like a refill?" - - "Just a skosh".

Two fingers of whisky . . . Also two fingers of whisky . . .

 

[uriah1]

A country mile
A smidgeon
Smaller than a frog hair

 

[Killing Floor]

Over here we sometimes have “meters”. It’s a good comparative unit since they’re just over 3’ tall.

 

[Buckocaster51]

I once calibrated a speedometer in furlongs/fortnight

 

[ale.istotle]

I once calibrated a speedometer in furlongs/fortnight

Old job had a trainer that gave job candidates a conversion factor sheet and made them convert gallons per minute to hogsheads per fortnight. I think you two would get along.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

I know, comparisons are annoying.

Especially the malt whisky one. Rather depends if it's a bottle of Bell's (£14) or a Bowmore 1965 (£40k last time I looked)

 

[Recalcitrant]

In the US we use football fields (of the American football type, of course.) Aircraft carriers, convention centers and warehouses are always communicated in this unit. ("Chicago's McCormick Place is the size of 45 football fields.")

 

[Eddiebaby1]

Heights or lengths of a London bus.

 

[Hodgo88]

I remember one of my textbooks in elementary school had a list of measurements for liquid volume that ended at "hogshead"

 

[KC]

When I worked construction, we had an obscene term for a very short measurement, also a distinction as to whether it was an Italian one or a Swedish one. This was a while ago. . .

 

[Toto'sDad]

Here in California, there are only two measurements.

Your house is BIG ese!

Your house is LITTLE ese!

 

[notmyusualuserid]

I remember one of my textbooks in elementary school had a list of measurements for liquid volume that ended at "hogshead"

It's a barrel size. 300 litres.

 

[micpoc]

I don't care one whit about this topic.

 

[Killing Floor]

I once calibrated a speedometer in furlongs/fortnight

That's funny because on bike rides we used to amuse ourselves with furlongs per millifortnight. These were very long rides!

 

[davidge1]

I live in Los Angeles, where everything is measured in time. How far away is the restaurant? It's about 30 minutes from here.

 

[nvilletele]

I don't care one whit about this topic.

And I don’t give two sh*ts about it myself.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Three freckles past a hair as a horological referent.

 

[buster poser]

And I don’t give two sh*ts about it myself.

You boys need to dial it back a scosche.