Arroba

Arroba was a Portuguese and Spanish custom unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is @.

History

The word arroba has its origin in Arabic ar-rubʿ (الربع) or "quarter," specifically the fourth part (of a quintal), which defined the average load which a donkey could carry.[1]

Spain and Portugal

In weight it was equal to 32 pounds (14.7 kg) in Portugal and 25 pounds (11.5 kg) in Spain.

Arroba and bushel as weight units are similar (15 kg).

Latin America

The unit is still used in Portugal by cork merchants, and in Brazil by the agricultural sector. The modern metric arroba used in these country life activities is defined as 15 kilograms (33 lb).

In Peru the arroba is equivalent to 11.5 kilograms (25 lb).[2]

In Bolivia nationally it is equivalent to 30.46 litres (6.70 imp gal; 8.05 US gal). However locally there are many different values, ranging from 11.5 litres (2.5 imp gal; 3.0 US gal) in Inquisivi to 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) in Baures.[3]

Internet

In Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, "arroba" has continued as the word for the "@" symbol used in Internet email addresses.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/201202/the.other.side.of.cork.htm
  2. ↑ La República, En Feria de la Mujer Emprendedora presentan antibióticos naturales saludables (in Spanish)
  3. ↑ Arroba in Bolivia Archived February 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.


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