In modern usage, metric is used almost exclusively in commercial transactions. These units are mostly historical, although they are still used in some limited contexts and in Maltese idioms and set phrases. Many of these terms are directly related to Arabic units and some to Sicilian units. The Weights and Measures Ordinance of 1921 established uniformity in the conversion of such weights and measures. All these measures were defined as simple multiples of the Imperial units then in use in Britain.
Length
Length units were typically used for measuring goods and building sizes. Distances were traditionally measured in terms of travel time, which explains the lack of large-scale units.
Table of length units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
pulzier
pulzieri
1⁄12
~2.183 cm
~0.8594 in
The Maltese inch. Exactly 55⁄64 imperial inches.
fitel
iftla
1⁄2
~13.1 cm
~5.156 in
This unit is not in the 1921 act.
xiber
xbar
1
~26.19 cm
~10.31 in
The Maltese hand span, equivalent to the foot. Exactly 10 +5⁄16 imperial inches.
qasba
qasab, qasbiet
8
~2.096 m
~2.292 yd
This is exactly 82+1⁄2 inches, or 6 ft 10+1⁄2 in. It corresponds to the fathom, but was used in both land and sea contexts.
Area
Land
In 1921, these units were redefined with respect to the British Imperial standard. These values reflect this change.
Table of area (land) units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
kejla
kejliet
1⁄60
~18.74 m2
~22.41 sq yd
siegħ
sigħan
1⁄6
~187.4 m2
~224.1 sq yd
tomna
tomniet, or tmien
1
~1,124 m2
~1344 sq yd
exactly 5⁄18 acre, or 12,100 square feet. This unit is also exactly 256 qasba kwadru. Sometimes called a tumolo in English texts. Also called Tumoli with modern real estate agents Cf. dunam.
These units were all (except for the cubic units) defined in 1921 relative to the British Imperial gallon, which was defined in the 1824 act. This is equal to 10 pounds of water at a specified temperature and air pressure. This (~4.54609031 litres) is slightly larger than the modern definition (exactly 4.54609 litres).
Beer, wine, and spirits measure
None of the units from this group are mentioned in TY Maltese.
Table of volume (beer, wine, & spirits) units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
pinta
pinet
1⁄8
~142.1 ml
1⁄4 pt
terz
terzi
1⁄4
~284.1 ml
1⁄2 pt
'third'
nofs
infas
1⁄2
~568.3 ml
1 pt
'half'
kartoċċ
krateċ
1
~1.137 litres
2 pt
kwarta
kwarti
4+3⁄4
~5.398 L
9+1⁄2 pt
'quarter'
ġarra
ġarar
9+1⁄2
~10.8 L
2+3⁄8 gal
barmil
bramel
38
~43.19 L
9+1⁄2 gal
'barrel'
Milk and Oil measure
Table of volume (milk & oil) units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
kwartin
kwartini
1⁄40
~31.96 ml
1+1⁄8 fl oz
'quarter'. Referenced in 1921 Act only.
kejla
kejliet
1⁄10
~127.9 ml
4+1⁄2 fl oz
'measure' Referenced in 1921 Act only.
terz
terzi
1⁄4
~319.6 ml
11+1⁄4 fl oz
'third'
nofs
infas
1⁄2
~639.3 ml
22+1⁄2 fl oz, or 1+1⁄8 pints
'half'
kartoċċ
krateċ
1
~1.279 litres
2+1⁄4 pt
kwarta
kwarti
4
~5.114 L
9 pt, or 1+1⁄8 gal
'quarter'
qafiż
qofża
16
~20.46 L
4+1⁄2 gal
Referenced in 1921 Act only.
Dry
None of these units are mentioned in TY Maltese. Note that there are two conflicting values for the siegħ (1⁄10 and 1⁄6tomna, respectively).
Table of volume (dry) units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
lumin
lumini
1⁄600
~30.31 ml
~1.849 cu in
kejla
kejliet
1⁄60
~303.1 ml
~18.49 cu in
also called a mondell
siegħ
sigħan
1⁄10
~1.818 L
~111 cu in
This is the value listed for the siegħ by Aquilina. The 1921 Act has a different value. This amount is exactly 3+1⁄5 imperial pints.
għabara
1⁄6
~3.031 L
~184.9 cu in, or ~0.107 cu ft
Referenced in Aquilina only. The 1921 Act uses this value for the siegħ, and does not mention the għabara by name.
tomna
tmien, or tomniet
1
~18.18 L
~0.6422 cu ft
Sometimes called the tumolo in English texts. This is exactly 4 imperial gallons.
modd
mdied
16
~290.9 L
~10.27 cu ft, or ~0.3805 cu yd
'weigh'. An alternate name given by Aquilina is the salma. This is exactly 64 imperial gallons.
Cubic
Table of volume (cubic) units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Metric value
Imperial value
Notes
pulzier kubu
pulzieri kubi
1⁄1728
~10.4 ml
~0.6347 cu in
fitel kubu
iftla kubi
1⁄8
~2.246 L
~137.1 cu in
xiber kubu
xbar kubi
1
~17.97 L
~1097 cu in
qasba kubu
qasab kubi, or qasbiet kubi
512
~9.202 kl
~12.04 cu yd
a volume 1 qasba by 1 qasba by 1 qasba
Mass
All the Maltese mass units were redefined relative to the British Imperial ton in 1921. Before this, the units were presumably based on an Arabic standard. All equivalent measures listed in pounds below are exact values.
Note: there are two distinct units which are named kwart.
This system was used during the rule of the Knights of St. John in Malta. Subsequent currencies in use were sterling and the Maltese pound. Malta has since adopted the euro.
Table of money units
Unit
Plural
Relative value
Notes
grano
grani
1
taro
tari
20
scudo
scudi
240
References
Maltese-English Dictionary, appendix 10, p1658, by Aquilina, published by Midsea Books Ltd. No ISBN available.