This link contains the following thread from the H-Albion listserv:
Editor's Subject: History of childhood
Author's Subject: History of childhood
Date Written: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 03:58:43 EST
Date Posted: Thu, 12 Feb 2003 08:49:36 -0500
The unit is medre (مدره). Zenker (Türkisch-Arabisch-Persisches Handwörterbuch) has it, with the following definition: mésure pour les liquides, ein Mass für Flüssigkeiten. See also the appendix on weights and measures in Inalcik and Quataert (Economic and Social History) for the equivalent in okka as concerns wine. I have not yet seen it in connection with oil but it does not surprise me.
Best,
Eleni Gara
Dear Christoph Neumann
Thanks very much for your reply. Shortly after posting this query I found an explanation in Nathan Bailey, An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. 20th edn, London, 1764, defining “metre” as a measure of wine used in Turkey, consisting of “2 Quarts 1 Pint 1 3d”. I am now curious about the origin of this measurement. Could it be Byzantine?
Regards
Mary
Probably a "measure" -- anything to measure the amount of oil.
Best,
Christoph
