The fotmal (Old English: fotmael, lit. "foot-measure"; Latin: fotmal), also known as the foot (pes), formel, fontinel, and fotmell, was an English unit of variable weight particularly used in measuring production, sales, and duties of lead.[1]
Under the c. 1300 Assize of Weights and Measures, it was equal to 70 Merchants' pounds and made up 1&fras1;30 of a load of lead.[2] Elsewhere, it was made of 70 avoirdupois pounds and made up 1&fras1;24 load.[1] According to Kiernan, in 16th-century Derbyshire, the fotmal was divided into "boles" and made up 1&fras1;30 of a fother, meaning it was considered to be 84 avoirdupois pounds.[1]
It continued to be used until the 16th century.[1]
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Gill (1998), p. 132.
- ^ Ruffhead, Owen, ed. (1763a), The Statutes at Large, Vol. I: From Magna Charta to the End of the Reign of King Henry the Sixth. To which is prefixed, A Table of the Titles of all the Publick and Private Statutes during that Time, London: Mark Basket for the Crown, pp. 148–149. (in English) & (in Latin) & (in Norman)
Bibliography
- Gill, M.C.; et al. (1998), "Weights and Measures Used in the Lead Industry" (PDF), British Mining, No. 61, Sheffield: Northern Mine Research Society, pp. 129–140.