Dram (unit)

Dram (unit)
For the related unit of currency, see Drachma.

The dram (archaic spelling drachm; apothecary symbol ℨ) was historically both a coin and a weight. Currently it is both a small mass in the Apothecaries' system of weights and a small unit of volume. This unit is called more correctly fluid dram or in contraction also fluidram.

Contents

Ancient unit of mass

Greek and Roman drachm are related by the approximate ratio 32 : 25.

The Ottoman dirhem is based on the Sassanian drachm, which is itself based on the Roman dram/drachm. Modern Armenian drams, the currency of the Republic of Armenia, share this origin.

Modern unit of mass

In the avoirdupois system, the dram is the mass of 1⁄256 pound or 1⁄16 ounce. So the dram weighs 875⁄32 grains or exactly 1.771 845 195 312 5 grams.

The dram is also the mass of 1⁄96 pound (℔) or 1⁄8 ounce (℥) in the apothecaries' system that survived until the middle of the 20th century in English-speaking countries. It is equal to 3 scruples (℈) or 60 grains (G). Thus, it is equal to exactly 3.887 9346 grams.

Unit of volume

The fluid dram is defined as 1⁄8 of a fluid ounce, which means it is exactly equal to

  • 3.696 691 195 312 5 mL in the United States and
  • 3.551 632 812 500 0 mL in the Commonwealth and Ireland.

In the United Kingdom, a teaspoon was formerly defined as one and one half fluid dram (it is now 5 mL).

"Dram" is also used as a measure of the powder charge in a shotgun shell.

4 Drams is the measurement of 1/2 a bottle of promoter.

Dram is also used informally to mean a small amount of liquid, especially Scotch whisky. In this case the "dram" will usually be 30 ml - see Alcoholic spirits measures.

Images

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dram — or DRAM may refer to: As a unit of measure: Dram (unit), an imperial unit of mass and volume Armenian dram, a monetary unit Dirham, a unit of currency in several Arab nations Other uses: A small railway cargo truck used in a mine railway Dynamic… …   Wikipedia

  • dram — /dram/, n., v., drammed, dramming. n. 1. Meas. a. a unit of apothecaries weight, equal to 60 grains, or 1/8 ounce (3.89 grams). b. 1/16 ounce, avoirdupois weight (27.34 grains; 1.77 grams). Abbr.: dr., dr 2. See fluid dram. 3. a small drink of… …   Universalium

  • Dram shop — or dramshop is a legal term in the United States referring to a bar, tavern or the like where alcoholic beverages are sold. Traditionally, it referred to a shop where spirits were sold by the dram, a small unit of liquid. Dram shop liability… …   Wikipedia

  • dram — [dram] n. [ME < OFr dragme < ML dragma < L drachma: see DRACHMA] 1. a) a unit of weight, equal to 1/ 16 ounce avoirdupois or 27.3437 grains (1.772 grams) b) a unit of weight, equal to 1/ 8 ounce apothecaries or 3 scruples (3.888 grams)… …   English World dictionary

  • dram — unit of weight equal to 1/16 of an ounce Units of Measurement …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • dram — (dr)    1. a unit of weight in the traditional avoirdupois system (see pound1), equal to 1/16 ounce or 1/256 pound. One dram equals about 1.7718 gram. The word dram comes from a Latin weight unit, the dragma, and derives ultimately from the Greek …   Dictionary of units of measurement

  • dram — A unit of weight : 1/8 oz.; 60 gr, apothecaries weight; 1/16 oz., avoirdupois weight. SYN: drachm. [see drachm] * * * dynamic random access memory * * * dram also drachm dram n 1) either of two units of weight …   Medical dictionary

  • unit — Synonyms and related words: I, KP, abampere, abcoulomb, abfarad, abhenry, abohm, abvolt, ace, ampere, ampere foot, ampere hour, ampere minute, an existence, army, army group, article, atom, atomic mass, atomic number, atomic weight, battalion,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • dram — /dræm / (say dram) noun 1. a unit of measurement in the imperial system, equal to ¹⁄₁₆ ounce avoirdupois weight (27.34 grains) or approx. 1.772 × 10 3 kg. 2. US → drachm (def. 1). 3. → fluid drachm. 4. a small drink of liquor. 5. a small quantity …  

  • dram — [15] Dram was borrowed from Old French drame or medieval Latin drama, which were variants respectively of dragme or dragma. Both came from drachma, the Latin version of Greek drakhmé. This was used in the Athens of classical times for both a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”