10 Unusual Ways People Used to Measure Things

When it comes to measuring distance or weight, most of the world is pretty content with the metric system. It’s neat, it’s logical, and it works in multiples of ten—what’s not to love? But then there’s the United States, still clinging to imperial measurements, where someone’s height might be described in feet and inches, and roads stretch out in miles instead of kilometers.

Now, here’s the weird part—ever wonder where a “foot” comes from? According to one story (no promises on historical accuracy), it was based on the actual foot length of an English king. Imagine your body measurements being determined by a royal who lived centuries ago—kind of bizarre, right?

But this is where things get even more curious.

While we’re all used to standard units like meters, pounds, or gallons, the world hasn’t always been so standardized. In fact, people have invented some truly strange ways to measure things over time—things that don’t even sound real. Ever heard of the smoot? It’s a real unit of length named after a guy named Oliver R. Smoot and used to measure the length of a bridge at MIT. Or the sheppey, a unit of distance defined by how far away a sheep can be while still looking “pleasantly picturesque.”

These aren’t just historical trivia—they reflect how humans have always tried to make sense of the world around them using whatever tools, references, or odd cultural quirks they had at the time.

10. The Smoot: A Measurement Named After a College Prank

In 2011, the internet was introduced to the Smoot—and no, it’s not some new tech term. It appeared mysteriously in a drop-down menu on Google Earth, right between nautical miles and degrees, without much context. Naturally, people started wondering, “What in the world is a Smoot?”

The answer goes back to 1958 when Oliver Smoot, a student at MIT, became an unwitting part of measurement history. During his time pledging a fraternity, Smoot and his fellow pledges were given a bizarre task: they needed to measure the length of a bridge, but with one catch—they had to use a human as the “ruler.” Enter Smoot.

Standing at a height of 5 feet, 7 inches, Smoot became the unit of measurement. He lay down on the bridge, one Smoot at a time, with chalk markings on the bridge to indicate the end of each “Smoot.” They repeated this process until they covered the full length of the bridge, which turned out to be a whopping 364.4 Smoots long—plus an ear, because Smoot’s ears were also part of the measurement!

While it may have started as a quirky prank, the Smoot has since gained cult status. It’s even used on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge, where the original prank took place, as a fun tribute to this odd chapter in measurement history.

If you’re curious, a Smoot equals exactly 5 feet 7 inches—and yes, it’s a real unit you can find in measurement tools like Google Earth. So, next time you need a very specific length, just remember: there’s a Smoot for that!

9. A Butt: An Unexpected and Ancient Way to Measure Wine​

Have you ever heard someone casually mention a “buttload” of something? Maybe it was during a conversation about an overwhelming amount of work, or when someone was joking about their extensive collection of books. ​Well, it turns out that this seemingly humorous term has a historical basis in the world of wine measurement!​​

Indeed, a ​butt​ is not just a funny slang term; it’s an actual unit of measurement, albeit a rather old-fashioned one. You see, in the past, a butt was a measurement used to quantify large quantities of wine. It might sound a bit ridiculous now, but back then, it was a practical way to talk about significant amounts.

To put it in perspective, a butt is equal to two hogsheads. Now, if you’re like me, you might be wondering, “What the heck is a hogshead?” Well, a hogshead is another old unit of measurement, this time referring to a type of barrel used to store and transport liquids like wine or whiskey. In fact, you can still buy hogsheads for whiskey today if you’re interested in the traditional brewing process.

A single hogshead equals 66 gallons, which means a butt, being two hogsheads, is a whopping 132 gallons! That’s a lot of liquid! You can just imagine the size of the container needed to hold all that wine.

Interestingly, the term “butt” itself has an interesting history. It didn’t always refer to a measurement. Instead, it comes from the Italian and French words for “boot.” Can you imagine referring to a pair of boots as a measurement? It’s quite a leap from its original meaning.

But here’s the kicker: the size of a hogshead and, consequently, a butt, wasn’t always consistent. In some places, a hogshead was measured at 54 gallons, which would make a butt 108 gallons. However, in the U.S., a butt was standardized at 126 gallons. This inconsistency made the use of butts and hogsheads as measurements a bit impractical over time.

We use more standardized units of measurement, like liters and gallons, for everything from cooking to scientific research. But it’s fascinating to look back and see how people used to quantify things, especially something as enjoyable as wine.

8. Yes, a Slug Is Slimy—and Also a Unit of Mass

You probably think of slugs as the slow, gooey creatures that leave shiny trails on your porch. But believe it or not, “slug” is also a unit of mass used in physics. It sounds like a joke, but it’s the real deal—and yes, it’s as odd as it sounds.

One slug equals roughly 32.17 pounds (at sea level), but before your brain starts to melt, here’s the twist: pounds measure force, not mass. That’s because when we talk about weight in everyday life—like weighing yourself at the gym—we’re actually talking about the force of gravity pulling on your mass.

Still following? Good. So if a pound is force, and mass is how much “stuff” you’re made of, then a slug is what physicists use when they want to keep things neat in calculations involving Newton’s Second Law (force = mass × acceleration). In that world, 1 pound of force will accelerate 1 slug at 1 foot per second squared.

It’s a quirky system—and unless you’re deep into engineering or physics, you might never need to use slugs. But just knowing that someone, somewhere, decided to name a legit unit of mass after a squishy garden creature? That’s the kind of curiously fascinating fact worth sharing.

7. ​The Surprising Origin of the Term ‘Megadeath’: A Nuclear Death Toll Measure​

Hey there, dear readers! Today, I’m going to share with you some truly fascinating and perhaps a bit mind-blowing information. Ever heard of the ’80s metal band ​Megadeath​? Their name sure is… well, metal. It has that raw, edgy quality that makes you think of a bunch of headbanging rockers creating music that shakes the ground. It’s so quintessentially “metal” that most people probably never really questioned where it came from. We just assumed it was one of those cool, made-up band names that a group of metalheads came up with after a night of partying and chugging beers with their buddies.

But here’s the kicker – it’s not just a made-up band name! In fact, ​Megadeath​ is a unit of measure. Yep, you heard that right! And it’s not just any ordinary unit; it’s now arguably the most metal unit of measure ever. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How on earth did a band end up with a name that’s also a unit of measure? Well, let me break it down for you.

You see, back in the day, when experts and analysts were tasked with trying to predict the aftermath of nuclear wars, they came up with all kinds of strange and specific jargon. That’s where the concept of “megadeath” originated. A ​megadeath, as a unit of measure, is used to describe the number of deaths, in millions, that could occur after a potential nuclear explosion. Think about it. If a city like Chicago, which has a population of approximately 2.6 million, were to be obliterated by a nuclear weapon, then the death toll would be a staggering 2.6 megadeaths. It’s a rather cold and clinical way of quantifying such a horrific event, but that’s the way these things were measured and discussed in scientific and military circles.

Now, you might be scratching your head and asking yourself, “Why on earth would anyone use such an incredibly ridiculous term to downplay the enormity of the death toll caused by such a horrible atrocity?” Well, that’s a great question. And the truth is, it’s not so much about downplaying as it is about finding a way to communicate and analyze the potential consequences of a nuclear event in a somewhat objective manner. Of course, no term can truly capture the horror and devastation of such an event, but these measures are used to help understand and plan for the worst-case scenarios.

6. What on Earth is a Cuil? A Unit for Measuring Surreal Weirdness

These days, people throw around the word “surreal” like candy. A surprise promotion? Surreal. Meeting a childhood idol? Also surreal. But is it really? The term is meant to describe experiences that feel like a dream or a glitch in reality—not just mildly unexpected moments. So how do you measure just how surreal something really is?

Enter the Cuil—a unit of surreal measurement so bizarre, it had to be born from the internet.

The Cuil (pronounced “cool”) is a theoretical unit that marks your distance from reality, with one Cuil equaling one level of abstraction from what’s actually happening. The more Cuils you go, the stranger and more disconnected things get. For example, you might start with “You ask me for a sandwich,” but at 3 Cuils, you get “You awaken to find yourself inside a sandwich. The lettuce is judging you.”

Yeah. It gets weird fast.

Where did this come from? Ironically, from Cuil.com, a short-lived search engine launched in 2008 to compete with Google. It indexed over 120 billion web pages, which sounds impressive—until you used it. The search results were so nonsensical and irrelevant, users joked they’d entered a surreal alternate dimension. Thus, the unit of Cuil was born, not as a scientific tool, but as a hilarious (and slightly unnerving) way to explain what happens when logic completely breaks down.

While not a real measurement by scientific standards, the Cuil theory became a cult hit online. It’s a tongue-in-cheek way to quantify how absurd something feels, and it makes you rethink what truly qualifies as “surreal.”

5. The Curious Case of the Noggin: A Unit of Measurement That’ll Leave You Scratching Your Head​

Hey there, fellow curious souls! Are you the kind of person who loves to enjoy a good drink now and then? And not just any drink – but one where you keep a close eye on exactly how much you’re imbibing? Well, then you might have come across the term “noggin.” Now, this isn’t just some random word thrown around in a party setting. It’s a unit of measurement, and trust me, it’s as confusing as it gets.

A noggin is supposed to be a unit that amounts to about a half pint. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, not so fast. You see, it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when a noggin was actually a quarter pint. And then, for some reason that still remains a bit of a mystery, they decided to “upgrade” it. So now, it’s back to being around a half pint. But that’s not all! A noggin is also the same as a gill. So, basically, you’ve got this unit that has switched around in its definition like a chameleon.

And let’s not forget about the other ways we can try to understand a noggin. It’s equivalent to 142 cubic centimeters. That might sound like a bunch of numbers thrown at you, but it’s roughly 0.6 cups. And if that’s not enough, it’s also 4.8 ounces. To put it in perspective, that’s just over three shots’ worth. I mean, who was really using noggins to measure their drinks in the first place? It’s not like you’re going to walk into a bar and order a noggin of your favorite booze.

It’s honestly a bit mind-boggling trying to figure out why and how this unit of measurement came to be so convoluted. Maybe it was some sort of ancient custom that somehow survived through the ages, or maybe it was just a funny quirk that someone decided to keep around. Either way, the noggin remains a mystery in the world of measurement.

Now, the next time you hear someone mention a noggin, you’ll know that it’s not just a simple little term. It’s a unit with a history of changing its mind about what it’s supposed to represent. And who knows, maybe someday someone will come along and straighten out all this confusion. Until then, let’s just enjoy our drinks and not worry too much about the exact measurement in noggins.

4. Poronkusema: A Real Finnish Unit Based on Reindeer Pee

Yes, it’s real—and yes, it’s hilarious. In the frozen north of Finland, far from cities and paved roads, there exists an unusual unit of distance that has nothing to do with rulers or odometers. It’s called the poronkusema, and it literally means “reindeer pee”.

Let’s break it down. Reindeer, it turns out, aren’t multitaskers. Specifically, they can’t walk and urinate at the same time. So for Finnish reindeer herders, who spend a lot of time out in the snow tracking and guiding their herds, this biological quirk became… surprisingly useful.

A poronkusema is defined as the distance a reindeer can walk before it needs to take a bathroom break. That works out to about 7.5 kilometers—or 4.7 miles for those more used to imperial units. It may sound like a joke, but the measure is remarkably consistent, enough so that it actually became a known unit of informal distance in Finnish culture.

You won’t find it in modern road signs or GPS apps, but if you ever hear a Finn joking about a destination being “three reindeer pees away,” you’ll now know that it’s a kind of folkloric shorthand for a moderate hike through the tundra.

Like other quirky units—such as the smoot or the cuil—poronkusema reminds us that not all measurements come from labs and engineers. Some are born from everyday life, local traditions, and just a bit of absurdity.

3. The Millihelen: Measuring Beauty, One Ship at a Time

When it comes to science and sarcasm, the two often go hand in hand—and that’s exactly how we ended up with the millihelen, a tongue-in-cheek unit of beauty that’s both wildly impractical and hilariously clever.

To understand it, you have to go back to Helen of Troy, the mythological Greek figure known for being so beautiful that her face launched a thousand ships. Whether those were literal warships or a poetic metaphor is still up for debate—but that single line of ancient epic poetry was enough to inspire modern nerds to create a whole fake system of beauty measurement.

Here’s how it works:

• One “Helen” is the amount of beauty required to launch exactly 1,000 ships.
• So, by the logic of the metric system, a millihelen (1/1,000th of a Helen) is the amount of beauty needed to launch just one ship.

That’s it. That’s the joke. And it’s glorious.

While this fictional measurement doesn’t show up in any official physics textbooks, it’s been floating around in engineering labs, internet forums, and sci-fi conventions for decades. Some jokers even propose that 500 millihelens is “average”, which makes you wonder how many ships your last selfie might be worth.

Is the whole idea a little absurd? Sure. Is it measurably fascinating? Also yes. It’s not every day that classical mythology collides with metric humor to create a unit that’s equal parts history, math, and mischief.

2. Micromort: The Tiny Metric That Calculates Your Odds of Dying

Sounds cute, right? Micromort. Like something you’d name your pet spider or maybe a gothic hamster. But this oddly charming word has nothing to do with fluffiness—and everything to do with measuring death. Seriously.

A micromort is a unit that expresses a one-in-a-million chance of dying. That’s it. That’s the whole terrifying concept.

Want to know how risky something is? Don’t ask your anxious friend—ask the micromorts.

• Scuba diving? Around 5 micromorts.
• Skydiving? Roughly 10 micromorts.
• Base jumping? A whopping 430 micromorts.
  So yes, gravity has a dark sense of humor.

This eerie little measure was introduced in the 1980s, giving mathematicians, insurance companies, and thrill-seekers a quick way to talk about life-threatening risks without diving into paragraphs of stats. For example, if you’re living a pretty average day as a young adult, your base-level risk is about 1 micromort daily. Nothing personal—it’s just math.

Things got darker during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2021 study revealed that daily micromort risk from illicit drug use jumped to 1 per day, up from 0.5 the year before. Suddenly, those little reaper points started stacking up fast.

And just to keep things spicy: in 2022, living in London came with an estimated 0.01 micromort risk of dying in a nuclear attack. We’re not saying that to ruin your day—just to point out how weirdly specific and global this measurement can get.

1. Batman: The Ottoman Empire’s Weighty Legacy

Before the Caped Crusader swooped into comics, there was another kind of Batman—and he wasn’t fighting crime in Gotham. This Batman was a unit of weight, and trust us, it’s just as cool in a historical, completely nerdy way.

Used across the Ottoman Empire and Central Asia, a Batman was roughly 16.7 pounds (or around 7.6 kilograms), though that varied a bit depending on the region. Think of it as the 14th-century version of carrying your groceries home—except you’re bartering in silk, spices, or silver instead of plastic bags.

And yes, multiple Batman units could stack up into even larger trade measures. Imagine someone back then shouting, “I need five Batmans of grain!” It sounds like a medieval RPG quest, but it was just part of daily commerce.

While the name Batman has nothing to do with the DC superhero, the internet can’t help but draw comparisons.

• Is it strong? Sure, it could carry value across cities.
• Mysterious? Definitely.
• Does it appear in ancient trade records instead of comic books? Absolutely.

It’s one of those bizarre-but-true historical facts that sounds made up—yet it’s fully real.