A number of
units of measurement
A unit of measurement is a definite magnitude (mathematics), magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same kind of quantity. Any other quantity of that kind can ...
were used in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
to measure length, mass, etc.
Metric system
The metric system is a system of measurement that succeeded the Decimal, decimalised system based on the metre that had been introduced in French Revolution, France in the 1790s. The historical development of these systems culminated in the d ...
was optional in 1868, and has been compulsory since 1877.
System before metric system
Units were varied and were not in fixed values. During the transition to the metric system, units were fixed.
Before 1856, almost every canton had its own system of units.
Length
A number of units were used to measure length. One pied (1 fuss) was equal to 0.30 m, according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.
Some other units and their fixed values are given below:
1
ligne
The ''ligne'' ( ), or line or Paris line, is a historic unit of length used in France and elsewhere prior to the adoption of the metric system in the late 18th century, and used in various sciences after that time. The ''loi du 19 frimaire an V ...
= 1/144 pied
1 linie = 1/144 pied
1 pouce = 1/12 pied
1 zoll = 1/12 pied
1
aune
An ell (from Proto-Germanic *''alinō'', cognate with Latin ''ulna'') is a northwestern European unit of measurement, originally understood as a cubit (the combined length of the forearm and extended hand). The word literally means "arm", and ...
= 2 pied (or 4 pied
)
1 elle = 2 pied
1 brache = 2 pied
1
toise
A toise (; symbol: T) is a unit of measure for length, area and volume originating in pre-revolutionary France. In North America, it was used in colonial French establishments in early New France, French Louisiana (''Louisiane''), Acadia (''Acadi ...
= 6 pied
1 ruthe = 6 pied
1 perche = 16 pied (or 10 pied
)
1
lieue
A league is a unit of length. It was common in Europe and Latin America, but is no longer an official unit in any nation. Derived from an ancient Celtic unit and adopted by the Romans as the ''leuga'', the league became a common unit of measuremen ...
= 16 000 pied.
Lieue was used as a road measure.
Area
One
arpent
An arpent (, sometimes called arpen) is a unit of length and a unit of area. It is a pre-metric French unit based on the Roman ''actus''. It is used in Quebec, some areas of the United States that were part of French Louisiana, and in Mauritius ...
was 400 pied
2 or 1.44
ha
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass.
Ordinary
One livre (pfund of the Zollverein) was equal to 0.500 kg according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.
Some other units and their fixed values are given below:
1 loth = 1/32 livre
1 once = 1/16 livre
1 quintal = 100 livre.
Medicine (apothecary or pharmacy)
One livre was equal to 0.375 kg according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.
Some other units and their fixed values are given below:
1
grain
A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legum ...
= 1/5760 livre
1 scruple = 1/288 livre
1 drachme = 1/96 livre
1 once = 1/12 livre.
Capacity
Two main systems, dry and liquid, were used.
Dry
Several units were used to measure dry capacity. Some units are given below:
1 quarteron (divided into 1/4 and 1/16) = 10 emine = 15
L (0.4257 bushel)
1 double quarteron = 2 quarteron
1 sac = 10 quarteron.
Quarteron is the volume of 30 livre of pure water at 4° Celsius.
Quarteron was equal to 5/9 of a cubic pied.
Liquid
Several units were used to measure dry capacity. Some units are given below:
1 sctier = 25 pot
1 muid = 4 setiers
1 pot = 1.5
L (1.585 quarts).
Pot was the bulk of 3 livres weight of pure water at the temperature of 4° Celsius. Pot was equal to 1/18 pied
3 and was subdivided into 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8.
References
{{Systems of measurement
Swiss culture
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...