Re: [OT] Imperial measures

[Terence <terence.john@gmail.com>]

On 7 October 2011 08:36, Weaver <weaver@riseup.net> wrote:
> On Fri, 7 Oct 2011 08:03:13 +0100
> Terence <terence.john@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 7 October 2011 00:59, Weaver <weaver@riseup.net> wrote:
>>
>> >> but I'll bet not one in a thousand has ever heard of a gill.
>> >> (BTW, Wiki says to say "jill.")  4 oz. is 1/4 of a US pint.
>> >>
>> >> The Artha thesaurus-cum-dictionary has this to say:
>> >> *****************
>> >> gill ~ noun    uncommon
>> >>   1. a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to
>> >>       5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
>> >>   2. a United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces
>> >> *****************
>> >> 5 fl.oz. is 1/4 of an Imperial pint.
>> >
>>
>> Ash's Dictionary (1775)
>>
>> "Gill (s. from the barbarous Lat. gilla) A liquid measure containing
>> the fourth part of a pint."

> Yes, it's sitting there waiting for you like a reptile in the dark.
> An imperial pint is 600 ml.

Confronting my fears shows them again to be groundless (at the start):

"Pint (s. from the Saxon) A liquid measure, half a quart. Twelve
ounces with physicians."

and:

"Quart (s. from the French) The fourth part of a gallon; the vessel in
which strong beer is generally retailed."

and, to complete the circle:

"Gallon (s. from the low Lat, gelo) A liquid measure of four quarts"

I think I could do with a gallon of strong beer......

Terence