<Li> 1963 11 & 12 Eliz II c31 Weights and Measures Act: abolished the chaldron of coal, the fluid drachm and minim (effective 1 February 1971), discontinued the use of the quarter, abolished the use of the bushel and peck and abolished the pennyweight (from 31 January 1969). </Li> <Dl> <Dt> Poppyseed </Dt> <Dd> ​ ⁄ or ​ ⁄ of a barleycorn </Dd> <Dt> Line </Dt> <Dd> ​ ⁄ of a barleycorn </Dd> <Dt> Barleycorn </Dt> <Dd> ​ ⁄ of an inch, the notional base unit under the Composition of Yards and Perches . </Dd> <Dt> Digit </Dt> <Dd> ​ ⁄ inch </Dd> <Dt> Finger </Dt> <Dd> ​ ⁄ inch </Dd> <Dt> Hand </Dt> <Dd> 4 inches </Dd> <Dt> Inch </Dt> <Dd> 3 barleycorns (the historical legal definition) </Dd> <Dt> Nail </Dt> <Dd> 3 digits = ​ 2 ⁄ inches = ​ ⁄ yard </Dd> <Dt> Palm </Dt> <Dd> 3 inches </Dd> <Dt> Shaftment </Dt> <Dd> Width of the hand and outstretched thumb, ​ 6 ⁄ inches before 1066, 6 thereafter </Dd> <Dt> Link </Dt> <Dd> 7.92 inches or one 100th of a chain . </Dd> <Dt> Span </Dt> <Dd> Width of the outstretched hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger, 3 palms = 9 inches </Dd> <Dt> Foot </Dt> <Dd> Prior to the Anglo - Saxon invasions, the Roman foot of 11.65 inches (296 mm) was used . The Anglo - Saxons introduced a North - German foot of 13.2 inches (335 mm), divided into 4 palms or 12 thumbs, while the Roman foot continued to be used in the construction crafts . In the late 13th century, the modern foot of 304.8 mm was introduced, equal to exactly ​ ⁄ Anglo - Saxon foot . </Dd> <Dt> Cubit </Dt> <Dd> From fingertips to elbow, 18 inches . </Dd> <Dt> Yard (= Ulna) </Dt> <Dd> 3 feet = 36 inches, the practical base unit as the length of the prototype bar held by the Crown or Exchequer . </Dd> <Dt> Ell </Dt> <Dd> From fingertip of outstretched arm to opposite shoulder, 20 nails = ​ 1 ⁄ yard or 45 inches . Mostly for measuring cloth </Dd> <Dt> Fathom </Dt> <Dd> Distance fingertip to fingertip arms outstretched, 6 feet </Dd> <Dt> Rod (= perch) (= pole) </Dt> <Dd> Used for surveying land and in architecture . The rod is the same length today as in Anglo - Saxon times, although its composition in terms of feet were changed by the Composition of Yards and Perches from 15 feet to ​ 16 ⁄ . The pole is commonly used as a measurement for Allotment Gardens . (See also perch as an area and a volume unit .) </Dd> <Dt> Chain </Dt> <Dd> four linear rods . Named after the length of surveyor's chain used to measure distances until quite recently . Any of several actual chains used for land surveying and divided in links . Gunter's chain, introduced in the 17th century, is 66 feet . </Dd> <Dt> Furlong (= stade) </Dt> <Dd> Notionally the distance a plow team could furrow without rest, but actually a measure of 40 rods or 600 feet prior to the Composition of Yards and Perches and 40 rods or 660 feet afterwards . </Dd> <Dt> Mile </Dt> <Dd> Originally the Roman mile alternatively reckoned as 5000 feet, 1000 paces, or 8 stades but adjusted to 5280 feet in 1593 to account for the differences introduced to these methods of reckoning by the Composition of Yards and Perches . </Dd> <Dt> League </Dt> <Dd> Notionally an hour's travel, but usually reckoned as three miles . Approximate length of the traditional "mile" in German and Scandinavian countries . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> ​ ⁄ or ​ ⁄ of a barleycorn </Dd> <Dd> ​ ⁄ of a barleycorn </Dd>

What is the english system of measurement used for