this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
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Chapotraphouse
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The bit about the furlong being named after a furrow length, I.e. the length that oxen could drag a heavy plow, is true.
Incidentally that is also the origin of acres. An acre is a furlong long and a chain wide. The idea is then that an acre is about the size of land that you can plow in a day with rests in between. Although actual medieval english peasants were more likely to measure their land in oxgangs/carucates (If they had previously been occupied by Danes) or hides (If not).
Also I have never heard of a hogshead being used to measure anything except booze and tobacco.