Honduran units of measurement
A number ofunits of measurementwere used in Honduras for length, mass, volume etc. In Honduras, themetric systemwas adopted in 1910, and has been compulsory since 1912, under a joint convention betweenCosta Rica,Guatemala,Honduras,NicaraguaandEl Salvador.[1][2]
Pre-metric units[edit]
Before the introduction of the metric system, a number of modified Spanish (Castilian[2]), English and local units were used, and continue to be used today by a large part of the country.[1]
Length[edit]
A number of units were used to measure length. One vara was equal to 0.836 m.[1][2]Some other units are given below:[1][2]
1 cuarta =1⁄4vara
1 tercia =1⁄3vara
1 mecate = 24 varas.
1 legua = 5,000 varas[3]
Area[edit]
Themanzanawas used by farmers to measure land area. For large areas, land was customarily measured in labors or legua.[3]
1 manzana = 10,000 vara2= 1.727 acres = 6,989 m2≈.7 hectare[a]
1 labor = 1 million vara2
1 legua[b]= 25 labors = 25 million vara2
Mass[edit]
Several units were used to measure mass in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Some units are given below:[1][2]
1 caja = 16 kg
1quintal= 100 libras[c]≈ 46 kg ≈ 101.4 lbs[3]
1 carga[d]= 2 quintals ≈ 200 lbs ≈ 90.72 kg[5]
Volume[edit]
Several units were used to measure capacity in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
1 botella = 0.63 to 0.67 L.[1][2]
1 cajuela = 16.6 L.[1]
1 cuartillo varies between countries,[1]but defined as 4 octavillos or 1/4almudeand contains 1.156 L ≈ 1.222 qt(US) (liquid) ≈ 1.017 qt(Imp)[3]
1fanega= 12 almudes = 48 cuartillos ≈ 55.50 L ≈ 1.960 ft3(1.575 U.S. bushels)[3]
Notes[edit]
- ^In calculations, the equivalence of 7000 m2or.7 hectare per manzana is often used to simplify conversion.
- ^Legua denoting area is equal to 1 square legua denoting length. In Latin America and southwestern United States, this is 4428.4 acres, 6.919 square miles, 1792 hectares, or 17.92 square kilometers.
- ^The Spanish libra is slightly larger than the English pound, generally in the range from 1.011 to 1.016 English pound. Both are derived from the Romanlibra,hence the abbreviationlbsfor English pounds.
- ^In Honduras and El Salvador a sack of beans or coffee typically weighs one quintal. Two of these are loaded on a mule or horse to make one load, orcargain Spanish. The unit carga is cited for yuca and yams as approximately 90.72 kg.[4]There are other Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries in which a carga is equal to 3 quintals or equal to a volume of 3 quintals of a commodity being shipped.[3]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefghWashburn, E.W. (1926).International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology.New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 5.
- ^abcdefCardarelli, F. (2003).Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.London: Springer. pp.157,158.ISBN978-1-4471-1122-1.
- ^abcdefRowlett, Russ (2018)."How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement".ibiblio.University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Retrieved25 March2020.
- ^Technical Conversion Factors for Agricultural Commodities.Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 1972. p. 155.
- ^World Weights and Measures. Handbook for Statisticians(Statistical Papers. Series M no. 21 Revision 1. (ST/STAT/SER.M/21/rev.1) ed.). New York: United Nations: United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Statistical Office of the United Nations. 1966.