Strange scales

10 of the weirdest units of measurement humans actually used

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Measuring the world is a human necessity, and throughout history, we’ve used some truly strange units. From the height of a monkey to the speed of beard growth, here are 10 of the weirdest—and funniest—measures ever recorded. Not the most practical, but undeniably fun!

Image: Tim Mossholder

A beard-second is the distance a beard grows in one second, roughly 5 nanometers. The unit originated in physics as a playful way to express extremely small lengths.

Although humorous, it can actually be used to illustrate minuscule distances, and some textbooks and teachers use it to make abstract concepts more relatable.

Image: Sam Carter

In medieval Scandinavia, a sheephead was a unit of weight for butter and cheese, representing roughly 30–40 pounds.

Units like this emerged from agricultural economies, where livestock products were common commodities. Though forgotten today, historical accounting records show widespread use of animal-based measures for commerce.

Image: Toomas Tartes

Another humorous velocity unit is the furlong per fortnight: a furlong equals 220 yards, and a fortnight represents 14 days. This means one furlong per fortnight is about 0.000116 meters per second.

Mostly used as a joke among scientists, it highlights the sometimes absurd combinations of units that can arise.

Image: Syed Ahmad

In 17th-century England, a "monkey" was a unit of weight for Indian textiles, equal to roughly 7.5 pounds. The name likely came from playful trade jargon rather than any connection to the weight of an actual monkey.

It facilitated commerce between Britain and its colonies, and historical trade documents preserve its use in textile contracts.

Image: Artur Solarz

An old temperature scale, where 0°R marked the freezing point of water and 80°R its boiling point. Named after René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, it was widely used in France and parts of Europe until the early 20th century.

Though now mostly obsolete, Réaumur thermometers survive in antique collections and are still occasionally referenced in traditional cheesemaking guides.

Image: Stephan Frolov

A Scottish unit of land measurement, the "sheep’s eye" was said to be based on how far a sheep could see—roughly 30 meters.

This intuitive measure allowed local farmers to discuss land informally before precise surveying tools existed.

Image: Erol Ahmed

A gross equals 144 items, or 12 dozen. Traders historically used it for bulk counting and wholesale commerce. The term comes from the Old French grosse douzaine, meaning "large dozen."

Still common in packaging and manufacturing, gross is often a practical unit when large quantities are involved.

Image: Scott Webb

A British unit of weight, the stone is standardized at 14 pounds. It was traditionally used for weighing people and animals and is still in use in parts of the UK today.

While most of the world now uses metric units (and the modern imperial system in the US), the stone persists in Britain and Ireland as a traditional measure.

Image: Bernd Dittrich

A "smoot" equals 5 feet, 7 inches—the height of Oliver Smoot, a MIT student. In 1958, MIT students used Smoot’s height to measure the Harvard Bridge in Boston.

The bridge was humorously marked in Smoots with chalk during the experiment, and the unit stuck—today, the bridge still has "Smoot" markings.

Image: fred crandon

A barrel unit that varied by region, the hogshead typically measured 63 gallons for wine or 54 gallons for beer. Used as early as the 15th century, it helped standardize liquid trade.

The term’s origin is obscure, possibly a mispronunciation of "oxhead." Hogsheads were important for commerce in both colonial America and Europe.

Godly etymology

What do volcanoes and sportswear have in common? Mythology!

Image: Ivan Bertona

From the food on your breakfast table to the shoes on your feet, traces of ancient mythology are hidden in plain sight. But we bet you didn’t know that! And we get it—after all, only a few people think about the origins of words daily. But don’t worry—that’s why we’re here. These mythological figures, who once inspired awe and devotion, now lend their names to the phenomena, products, and concepts we mention every day. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of mythologically inspired names and uncover 10 surprising origins.

Image: MK Hamilton

The word hypnosis takes its name from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. Hypnos, often depicted as a gentle, winged figure, had the power to lull both mortals and gods into a deep slumber.

Today, hypnosis refers to a trance-like state that feels like a dream but leaves you fully awake. This practice is often used for relaxation, therapy, and even entertainment.

The connection is fitting, to be honest—both Hypnos and hypnosis evoke a sense of calm and surrender. While Hypnos ruled over dreams, modern hypnosis helps people tap into their subconscious minds. It’s pretty amazing how the ancient god of closed eyes still influences our understanding of the mind today.

Image: Monika Simeonova

Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution and balance, has left her mark on the English language as a term for an unbeatable rival or a source of downfall.

In mythology, Nemesis punished hubris, which was considered a serious offense, and ensured that no one escaped the consequences of their actions.

The modern concept of a nemesis describes something or someone we cannot conquer and reflects this sense of unavoidable justice. It is frequently used to refer to a person we can’t defeat, but it can also apply to goals we struggle to achieve. Is that meant to make us feel bad? Not exactly—a nemesis is there to keep us humble!

Image: Francesca Scrinzi

Greek mythology features many creatures, including the Oreads, the mountain nymphs. Echo was an Oread who lived on Mount Cithaeron. This nymph was, of course, part of Zeus’s love life—and when Hera, his wife, found out, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words others said.

Fun twist: the next person Echo met—and fell in love with—was Narcissus. And we all know how that went!

In any case, the phenomenon of repeating sounds now carries her name. An echo is a repetition of sound caused by the reflection of sound waves from a wall, a mountain, or any surface that obstructs the path of the sound. Interesting, huh?

Image: Natsuko D'Aprile

Did you know that the breakfast you—or your kids—have every single day can be traced back to ancient mythology? Your morning bowl of cereal is named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.

As a deity who ensured a good harvest, Ceres was cherished by farmers and worshipped in lavish festivals. The name is perfect for the grains that are a breakfast staple worldwide. From cornflakes to oatmeal, cereal embodies the abundance that Ceres symbolized.

Image: Siddhant Kumar

Greek mythology was no fun business—love triangles, family disputes, and wars were pretty common. And when it comes to wars among the gods, the War of the Titans is one of the most remarkable. Why? Because the Titans went up against the gods for ten years.

The term atlas for a book of maps traces back to one of those Titans: Atlas, who was condemned to hold up the heavens after losing this divine rebellion. His incredible strength and eternal burden made him a symbol of endurance and support. In the 16th century, map collections were named after him because they reflected the idea of "carrying the world." Even if it’s a burden for him, it’s an accurate connotation!

Image: Jordan Whitt

Hypnos was the god of sleep, but once you were within his realm, Morpheus took over as the god of dreams. Father and son ruled together when it came to closed eyes.

Morphine, a powerful pain-relieving drug, draws its name from Morpheus, who was known for shaping and controlling dreams and often appeared in human form to deliver messages.

The drug’s name reflects its ability to induce a dream-like state and ease suffering. While it’s a medical wonder in many situations, its connection to dreams reminds us of its potent effects. Like Morpheus entering dreams, morphine brings relief—but it commands respect for its power.

Image: Ása Steinarsdóttir

Every Roman god has a Greek counterpart, but in the case of volcanoes, the name comes from the Romans themselves. The term "volcano" comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and smithing, who crafted weapons for gods and heroes in his fiery forge.

Vulcan worked with molten lava, just as volcanoes erupt with fiery power from the earth’s core. Ancient Romans believed volcanic eruptions were Vulcan’s way of showing his might. Even though we now understand the science behind them, the mythology still adds a sense of drama to these geological events. Don’t you just love it?

Image: Peter Herrmann

As we said, mythology was no lighthearted affair—and there was even an entity dedicated to disorder: enter Chaos.

In Greek mythology, Chaos was the primordial void from which everything began—a vast, formless expanse that existed before order emerged.

Today, still bearing the same name, chaos refers to mess, disorder, and unpredictability, just like the state of the universe before creation. It’s fascinating how a term for beginnings now represents turmoil and confusion, but maybe that’s the essence of the universe itself: from the cosmos to a messy kitchen, chaos has a timeless presence

Image: Joseph Barrientos

That’s right—the gods are also a source of inspiration for some of the biggest brands in the world. Take Nike, for example.

Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, has become a household name thanks to the global sportswear brand. A symbol of triumph and achievement in every arena, she inspired warriors in battle and athletes in competition. Remember the divine war we mentioned? Nike was the first to show her support for Zeus.

As for the company’s iconic Swoosh, the logo reflects her winged speed and grace. Every pair of Nike sneakers carries the spirit of determination and success. Who knew a goddess could have such impressive branding skills?

Image: Alicia Christin Gerald

To finish things off, let’s talk about one of the most celebrated figures in Greek mythology and her connection to one of the most respected professions in the modern world.

The word "psychology" finds its roots in Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul. In mythology, she was depicted as a beautiful woman with wings resembling those of a butterfly.

Since her name means "soul," Psyche inspired the field of psychology, which is all about studying the human essence, mind, and behavior. With the addition of a suffix that denotes a field of study, the word psychology connects ancient interest in understanding what makes us human to the modern scientific discipline. It’s ironic, but also beautiful, that the field studying the mind and soul is named after a goddess.