Ligne
Encyclopedia
The ligne is a unit of length that was in use prior to the French adoption of the metric system
in the late 18th century, and is still used by French
and Swiss
wristwatch makers to measure the size of a watch movement.
(1 mm = 0.443296 ligne), and it is abbreviated with the letter L or represented by the triple prime
, ‴.
This is comparable in size to the British measurement called "line
" (one-twelfth of an English inch), used prior to 1824.
button
makers, where it was used to measure the diameter of buttons. The consensus definition was that a ligne was the measurement of a round wick, folded flat. In this sense it measures of an inch
, but not exactly, for there were several inches in the kingdoms and petty states of Germany at that time. Such a measurement became the American measurement called "line," being one-fortieth of the US-customary inch. Its use was again to measure buttons, and was probably introduced by German immigrants.
The ligne system is in some instances still in use for buttons or snap buttons, where the size number of the button refers to ligne.
Metric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
in the late 18th century, and is still used by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
wristwatch makers to measure the size of a watch movement.
Watchmakers' use
There are 12 lignes to one French inch (pouce). The standardized conversion for a ligne is 2.2558291 mmMillimetre
The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....
(1 mm = 0.443296 ligne), and it is abbreviated with the letter L or represented by the triple prime
Prime (symbol)
The prime symbol , double prime symbol , and triple prime symbol , etc., are used to designate several different units, and for various other purposes in mathematics, the sciences and linguistics...
, ‴.
This is comparable in size to the British measurement called "line
Line (length)
The line is a unit of measurement, one line being equal to of an English inch. It was defined as one-quarter of a barleycorn, which defined the inch even before 1066. The French ligne was simarly defined as of the pouce...
" (one-twelfth of an English inch), used prior to 1824.
Buttonmakers' use
In the 9th century the term ligne came into use among GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
button
Button
In modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of...
makers, where it was used to measure the diameter of buttons. The consensus definition was that a ligne was the measurement of a round wick, folded flat. In this sense it measures of an inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
, but not exactly, for there were several inches in the kingdoms and petty states of Germany at that time. Such a measurement became the American measurement called "line," being one-fortieth of the US-customary inch. Its use was again to measure buttons, and was probably introduced by German immigrants.
The ligne system is in some instances still in use for buttons or snap buttons, where the size number of the button refers to ligne.