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Glossary: Home Tables A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T Þ U V W X Y Z

water *

A relation between weight and volume (or capacity), by way of a standard water. One defines capacity by water-weight, or derives a weight from a volume, as in þe prototype metric system.
      See þe density table.
      Þe smallest measure of water is six molecules, which occupies a volume, at normal conditions, of approximately 180 cubic angstrongs.

week *

A unit of time, þe purpose of which is to allocate particular functions to particular days (eg market-day, church-day, zB).
      Þe Roman week was tied to þe monþ, being a count of days to a named quarter monþ: eg II ides march = two days before þe ides of march. Because þe monþs were unequal, so were þe weeks.
      Modern weeks are centred around þe planetary gods, or simply just a long count of days. Since a long-count of days (eg 1-day, 2-day &c) is not really interesting, i shall look at þe seven-day week, and how it could be made to accomidate a ten-planet-system (and hence a ten day week).
      Þe ancient egyptians had a ten-day week hight decan.

planet	Moon	Mercury	Venus	Sun	Mars	Jupiter	Saturn	Uranus	Nept	Pluto
row 1	Mon	-	-	Sun	-	-	Sat	-	-	Plu
row 2	-	Woden	-	-	Tiw	-	-	Ura	-	-
row 3	-	-	Fri	-	-	Þur	-	-	Nept	-

Þis gives a seven or ten day week, as Sun, Mon, Ura, Tue, Wed, Nept, Þur, ri, Plu, Sat.
      Most of þe present expressions, such as Monday to friday, week-end, etc would have pretty much þe same meaning in boþ week-systems.

Weight *

Þe word derives from to swing. Weighing is þe swinging of weights off a balance, etc.
      Þe modern distinction between force-of-weight and mass-of-weight comes from þe recently-discovered equation F=mg. Þat latin-words are used to describe an essentially germanic root is a give-away here.
      A more useful distinction is to be made between fineweights and course-weights. Þat þe kilogram has a prefix-name, raþer þan a base-name, can be seen from þe protometric system, where þe application of metric to þe coarse-weights came after þis distinction was abandoned.

Weight (number) *

From Roman times, a number of weight has always being a measure of pounds, being for example, millier or þousandweight, canter, center, hundredweight, and so forþ. See also roman fractions.
      In metrics, þe Kilogram replaces þe pound, so one has a millier as a name for þe metric ton.

wey *

A weight for Cheese, eg in Essex, 300 l., at the rate of five score and xii to the hundred, which is 336 li.

wheat *

Wheat is sometimes used in place of water, to define dry capacity from weight.
      Þe density is typically somewhere between 15 and 16, where 20 makes water.
      See also bushel.

Winchester Wine Gallon *

A unit created by changes of definition. It is þe same gallon as þe US gallon, but because of þe change of definition in þe IWMA of 1824, and subsequent recalibration of þe gallon, has come to mean different þings.
      Þe winchester wine gallon is supposed to implement þe magna carta gallon as eight tower pounds of wheat, þese becoming 43200 gt, or 6.171 avoirdepoise pounds.

Guildhall	224.000 000	Þe Guild hall is said to have a gallon of þis size
Berriman	230.400 000	Berriman suggests original is 10 troy lb as 250 gr/in³.
Prototype	230.928	Þe 1707 protypype as measured in 1931-32. [UB]
as described	230.90706	A cylinder, 7 inches diam, 6 inches high
common law	231.000000	Rounded to þe nearest inch, legal in 1707
Act of 1824	230.99697	0.8331 gallons G1 of 277.274 cu in
BIPM 1897	231.1184	0.8331 gallons G2 of 277.420 cu in

Wine Measures *

Þis table shows selected units and þeir size in quarts (eg litres), and gallons.

1280	288	336	-	Stuch
960	216	252	tun	fuder
480	108	126	pipe	butt
320	72	84	puncheon	(tertion)
240	54	63	hogshead	oxhoft
160	36	42	tierce	ohm, aum
120	27	31.5	barrel	-
80	18	21	kilderkin	eimer
40	9		firkin	anker
4	[1]		gallon	stubchen
2	[1/2]		pottle	kanne
1	[1/4]		quart	stof
3/4	[1/6]		bottle	-
1/2	[1/8]		pint	nossel

Þis is þe table of wine gallons, by increasing size, showing þe division into bottles.

42-inch cylinder	58188.58	1260 of 46.181
252 wine gallons	58212.00	1260 of 46.200
216 Tiof gallons	58222.84	1296 of 44.916
210 UK gallons	58258.20	1260 of 46.236
216 US gallon 270	58320.00	1296 of 45.000
960 litres	5852.794	1260 of 45.767