English Weights and Measures
Ever heard of a firkin, hogshead, and coomb? Convert old-time English weights and measures to modern-day equivalencies with this chart from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
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| 60 pounds apples = 1 bushel |
| 52 pounds beans = 1 bushel |
| 24 pounds beets = 1 bushel |
| 56 pounds carrots = 1 bushel |
| 55 pounds flour = 1 bushel |
| 54 pounds onions = 1 bushel |
| 45 pounds parsnips = 1 bushel |
| 50 pounds potatoes = 1 bushel |
| 60 pounds string beans = 1 bushel |
| 60 pounds sweet potatoes = 1 bushel |
| 48 pounds tomatoes = 1 bushel |
| 196 pounds turnips = 1 barrel |
| 1 gill = 1/2 cup |
| 1 pottle = 2 quarts |
| 1 coomb = 4 bushels |
| 1 wey = 40 bushels |
| 1 last = 80 bushels |
| 1 firkin = 9 gallons |
| 1 anker = 10 gallons |
| 1 runlet = 18 gallons |
| 1 tierce = 42 gallons |
| 1 hogshead = 63 gallons |
| 1 puncheon = 84 gallons |
| 1 butt = 126 gallons |
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My best guess for term "do." is for "dash of". Such as two "dashes of" cinnamon.
Hello, I noticed a previous comment was asking about a Do. I am also looking for a measurement for do. As in one do. of butter, three do. currants, 2 do. cream tartar, etc. If it helps, it's a Southern cookery book from the 1860s.
Could it be an abbreviation for “ditto”? For example, if ingredients were listed as
1 tsp. salt
2 do. cream of tartar
3 do. cinnamon
… then perhaps this was indicating “2 tsps. cream of tartar” and “3 tsps. cinnamon”?
“Ditto” is sometimes abbreviated as “do.” — so perhaps it is a possibility if the first ingredient listed in your sources always is a defined measurement type (such as teaspoons). Hope this helps!
What is 1 peck of apples?
I'm trying to find out how much a barrel, a keg, a firkin, and a box of butter would weigh (or the volume of). I believe a barrel is about 200 pounds, and a firkin a quarter of that. I'm researching products shipped by steamer in the late 1800s in Northern California. Any assistance much appreciated. Thank you
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