Ancient Arabic units of measurement

The Arabic system of measurement is based on the Persian system. It was used in the Ottoman Empire.

Length

Table of length units
Unit	Plural	Relative value	Metric value	Notes
assbā إصبع		1/16 Arabic foot	~2.25 cm	A finger-length
cabda قبضة		1/4 Arabic foot	~9 cm	A palm-length
Arabic foot قدم عربية			~32 cm
cubit		Cubit, traditionally 2 Arabic feet, later 1.5 Arabic feet		A cubit-length
orgye		6 Arabic feet	~1.92 m	A pace-length
qasab قصبة		12 Arabic feet	~3.84 m	A cane-length
seir		600 Arabic feet	~192 m	Also noted as a stadion, a stadium-length.
ghalva		720 Arabic feet	~230.4 m
parasang		18000 Arabic feet	~5.76 km	From Ancient Mesopotamian (Iraqi) parasang. Roughly analogous to an English league.
barid بريد		4 parasang	~23.04 km
marhala مرحلة		8 parasang	~46.08 km	A village-length.

References

• Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins, Springer, 2003, pp. 76–78, ISBN 9781852336820 .

See also

• Awqiyyah, the Arabic ounce or half-pound, depending on region.
• Qafiz, an Arabic unit for measuring volumes.