Pern measurements - A Meeting of Minds

Jaysi · Apr 15 2012, 02:07 AM

Does anyone know how the Pernese measure things? I've heard of a "dragonlength" and a "weaverlength" but have never seen what they are in feet and inches. Help?

mawra · Apr 15 2012, 09:57 AM

I wish I could help you.

***Hans*** · Apr 15 2012, 03:18 PM

From the top of my head I seem to remember hands and finger sizes like we used to use before (metric) standardization.

P'ter · Apr 16 2012, 04:28 AM

Hand (equine measure) is usually taken as 4 inches.

Dragon-length: I usually visualise this as thirty feet.

Weaver-length: traditionally 27 yards (the amount a competant weaver was supposed to do in a week).

semantre · Apr 16 2012, 10:26 AM

IIRC, the DLG lists a dragonlength as the average length of a green dragon. So the measure would depend on the time period and the conversion of length (meters vs feet vs something else entirely).

Dannette · Jun 2 2012, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semantre

IIRC, the DLG lists a dragonlength as the average length of a green dragon. So the measure would depend on the time period and the conversion of length (meters vs feet vs something else entirely).

When did the dragonlength come in as a measurement, and was it always the length of the average green? Because if so, over time, as the dragons grew, it would change. A dragonlength in, say, the 6th Pass would be somewhat smaller than one in the 9th...unless it's only the larger dragons that were still getting bigger over generations by then, msybe greens had reached their 'design parameters' several Passes back? Any ideas?

Dannette.

semantre · Jun 4 2012, 12:47 PM

The only source that I am aware of for the term 'dragonlength' is the DLG, which I do not currently have access to.

GinnyStar · Jun 9 2012, 12:38 PM

The MasterHarper of Pern, had a boat the size of a queen dragon. Dragondrum Piemur had a dragonload of tubers I think

Apr 15 2012, 02:07 AM	#1
Jaysi Junior Member Muskie Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Missouri Gender: F Fan of: Dragonsdawn Now Reading: I just re-read Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper	Pern measurements Does anyone know how the Pernese measure things? I've heard of a "dragonlength" and a "weaverlength" but have never seen what they are in feet and inches. Help?

Apr 15 2012, 09:57 AM	#2
mawra Dolphin Friend Craftmaster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CONCORD VA Gender: F Fan of: PERN Now Reading: Dolphins of Pern and Queens ow	Re: Pern measurements I wish I could help you. __________________ MEDDLE NOT IN THE AFFAIRS OF DRAGONS, FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND GOOD WITH CHOCOLATE SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME DRIVING SMART KEEPS YOU ALIVE

Apr 15 2012, 03:18 PM	#3
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Dodger by Terry Pratchett	Re: Pern measurements From the top of my head I seem to remember hands and finger sizes like we used to use before (metric) standardization. __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Apr 16 2012, 04:28 AM	#4
P'ter Crafter Craftmaster Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Gender: M Fan of: Favorite? Now Reading: Didius Falco Series	Re: Pern measurements Hand (equine measure) is usually taken as 4 inches. Dragon-length: I usually visualise this as thirty feet. Weaver-length: traditionally 27 yards (the amount a competant weaver was supposed to do in a week). __________________ "Truth is stranger than fiction: fiction has to make sense." Leo Rosten. "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C. S. Lewis To err is human: to purr is cat" "I find television very educational. Whenever somebody switches it on I go in the other room and read a book." (attributed to Groucho Marx) More Bach than sound bite!

Apr 16 2012, 10:26 AM	#5
semantre Dragonrider Candidate Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern Series Now Reading: Whatever I can get my hands on	Re: Pern measurements IIRC, the DLG lists a dragonlength as the average length of a green dragon. So the measure would depend on the time period and the conversion of length (meters vs feet vs something else entirely).

Jun 4 2012, 12:47 PM	#7
semantre Dragonrider Candidate Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern Series Now Reading: Whatever I can get my hands on	Re: Pern measurements The only source that I am aware of for the term 'dragonlength' is the DLG, which I do not currently have access to.

Jun 9 2012, 12:38 PM	#8
GinnyStar Dolphineer Craftmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Schofield, WI USA, Central Standard Time Gender: F Fan of: Pern, other SF works Now Reading: My computer screen, with aid! Books HB type	Re: Pern measurements The MasterHarper of Pern, had a boat the size of a queen dragon. Dragondrum Piemur had a dragonload of tubers I think __________________ Lover s s, s and friends Lover of and beads, http://www.change.org/profiles/GinnyStar DC-Egg Cave too. www.eggcave.com GinnyStar2 Jellied Dragons Lair of Dragons http://dragcave.net/user/GinnyStar2 Thanks! Others: None at this time WIP http://archiveofourown.org/works/252259

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