Line (length)
Encyclopedia
The line is a unit of measurement, one line being equal to of an English (prior to 1824) inch. It was defined as one-quarter of a barleycorn, which defined the inch even before 1066. The French
(prior to 1799) ligne
was simarly defined as of the pouce (meaning "thumb", about an inch). Since the French pouce or inch was about 6% longer than the English inch, the "line" was similarly longer.
The Russian
liniya was defined as of the diuym (inch) from the 16th to the early 20th century; the diuym itself was redefined as exactly an English inch by Peter the Great. The German linie
is described in the article German units of measurement
as "usually inch, but also ".
Since the Russian military and German manufacturing were major factors in arms procurement, the "-inch line" became common terminology concerning weapons.
were recognized for technical pursuits, existing tools frequently favored the use of customary units. Thus a 7.62 mm caliber
round seems numerically arbitrary, until it is realised that 7.62 mm is 0.3 inches, .30 cal or three-lines. The 1891 Russian Mosin-Nagant
rifle is known as the "three-line rifle" in Russian. Although rarely referred to as such, the 12.7 mm Browning HMG round is a "five-line" round. The actual calibre of the round would differ as the actual value of the inch would vary from country to country.
French units of measurement
France has a unique history of units of measurement due to radical attempts to adopt a metric system following the French Revolution.In the Ancien régime, before 1795, France used a system of measures that had many of the characteristics of the modern Imperial System of units...
(prior to 1799) ligne
Ligne
The ligne is a unit of length that was in use prior to the French adoption of the metric system in the late 18th century, and is still used by French and Swiss wristwatch makers to measure the size of a watch movement.- Watchmakers' use :There are 12 lignes to one French inch...
was simarly defined as of the pouce (meaning "thumb", about an inch). Since the French pouce or inch was about 6% longer than the English inch, the "line" was similarly longer.
The Russian
Obsolete Russian units of measurement
A native system of weights and measures was used in Imperial Russia and after the Russian Revolution, but it was abandoned in 1924 when the Soviet Union adopted the metric system.The Tatar system is very similar to the Russian one, but some names are different....
liniya was defined as of the diuym (inch) from the 16th to the early 20th century; the diuym itself was redefined as exactly an English inch by Peter the Great. The German linie
is described in the article German units of measurement
German units of measurement
Germany had an indigenous system of German units of measurement prior to its adoption of the international metric system. These units are now mainly of historical interest.-German system:...
as "usually inch, but also ".
Since the Russian military and German manufacturing were major factors in arms procurement, the "-inch line" became common terminology concerning weapons.
In use
In older botanical and zoological texts, it was a common customary unit, as in the term 'awns 3 to 4 lines long'. Even after the superior properties of the metric systemMetric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
were recognized for technical pursuits, existing tools frequently favored the use of customary units. Thus a 7.62 mm caliber
7.62 mm caliber
7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the Imperial unit equivalent, and was most commonly used for indicating a class of full power military main battle rifle cartridges...
round seems numerically arbitrary, until it is realised that 7.62 mm is 0.3 inches, .30 cal or three-lines. The 1891 Russian Mosin-Nagant
Mosin-Nagant
The Mosin–Nagant is a bolt-action, internal magazine-fed, military rifle invented under the government commission by Russian and Belgian inventors, and used by the armed forces of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and various other nations....
rifle is known as the "three-line rifle" in Russian. Although rarely referred to as such, the 12.7 mm Browning HMG round is a "five-line" round. The actual calibre of the round would differ as the actual value of the inch would vary from country to country.
See also
- English units used prior to 1824
- Imperial units defined by the British Weights and Measures ActWeights and Measures ActA Weights and Measures Act is an Act of Parliament determining trade law where the weight or size of the goods being traded are important. For example, if a bottle of milk is for sale and has a label saying it contains one pint, then the law states that it must contain that amount.-United...
of 1824 - LigneLigneThe ligne is a unit of length that was in use prior to the French adoption of the metric system in the late 18th century, and is still used by French and Swiss wristwatch makers to measure the size of a watch movement.- Watchmakers' use :There are 12 lignes to one French inch...
based on the French pouce - Obsolete Russian units of measurementObsolete Russian units of measurementA native system of weights and measures was used in Imperial Russia and after the Russian Revolution, but it was abandoned in 1924 when the Soviet Union adopted the metric system.The Tatar system is very similar to the Russian one, but some names are different....