| measure |
translation |
comments |
pertica[ta] |
perch |
both an areal and a linear measurement; in linear terms,
it varied from 15' (Winchester customary perch) to 24' (the largest Forest
perch), but the statute perch was 16.5'; in areal terms, the perch was
a fortieth of a rood and there were 160 perches in a statute acre |
| roda |
rood |
an areal measure; the rood was a quarter of a statute acre |
| acra |
acre |
acres were measured ut iacent (by eye, customary) or
per perticam (measured, by the perch); even when measured, however, the
size of the perch might differ [see above] |
| cultura |
furlong |
a bundle of selions in a field and thus of varying size |
| bovata |
bovate, oxgang |
from 12 to 15 acres, depending on the regional custom [but sometimes
larger, as the 20-acre bovates on some Durham manors in Bishop Hatfield's
survey of 1382]; it thus
equated with half a virgate and comprised an eighth of a carucate; it
was usually used in the Scandinavian-influenced region of England |
| virgata |
virgate |
from 24 to 30 acres depending on the regional custom; it thus
comprised a quarter of a hide; it was usually used in the West Saxon region
of England |
| hida |
hide |
customarily used in the hidated region of England, the area of
West Saxon influence, and consisting usually of 120 acres or four virgates |
| carucata |
carucate, ploughland |
customarily used in the Scandinavian-influenced region of
England, and consisting of eight bovates or about 120 acres |
