Last (unit)


The last was a Dutch unit of mass, [|volume], and number, and a large English unit of weight, mass, volume, and number. It referred to standardized amounts of ships' lading and varied by commodity and over time.

Name

The term derives from Old English hlæst, ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root reconstructed as *hlaþ- or *hlað-. It is also parallel and probably influenced by the Middle Dutch and Middle Low German last, used in identical senses as a load, cargo, or standardized unit.

Weight

The Assize of Weights and Measures, one of the statutes of uncertain date from, defined the as 12 sacks' worth, equivalent to 24 weys, 336 London stone, or 4200 merchants' pounds. The last subsequently varied with the different values given to the sack of wool.
The flax and feather lasts were 1700 avoirdupois pounds.
The English Ordnance Board defined the as 24 barrels of 100 avoirdupois pounds each.
A Dutch last, or Scheepslast, was Amsterdam :nl:Pond |pond, which is. In the Dutch East India Company the last was about in the 17th century, later becoming as much as. The last was also used as a measure of rice in Dutch Formosa. It was composed of 20 piculs and about equal to.

Quantity

The Assize of Weights and Measures describes the as ten long thousands or 12,000 fish. The Norman French editions describe this as the "red herring" or and compose the herring last out of ten short thousands of twelve long hundreds, still making 12,000 fish altogether.
The comprised 20 dicker of 10 skins each or, sometimes, 12 dozen skins.

Volume

The English last could also be understood as the volume occupied by the other lasts. In some sources, the last is equated with. The beer last was 12 barrels, the cod last and some herring lasts were also 12 barrels, and the pitch last was 12 or 14 barrels.
The Polish last used for bulk trade in dry goods from the 16th to 19th century comprised 30 Polish bushels. In the early 19th century, this amounted to but varied over time and location.
The Dutch last, or Scheepslast, has been equated to essentially of shipping space.