Polveutinasteet

Polveutinasteet refers to a historical system of measurement used in some parts of Scandinavia, particularly Norway. The term itself is derived from the Old Norse words "polveiti" meaning elbow and "aste" meaning step. This indicates a system that likely involved measurements based on body parts and a standardized unit of length, possibly related to the forearm or a similar dimension.

While precise standardization varied over time and region, polveutinasteet was a practical system used for everyday transactions and land division before the widespread adoption of the metric system. It would have been understood through common usage and local agreements rather than being a strictly regulated national standard. Examples of such historical units include the ell (alen), which was often based on the length of the forearm.

The transition to the metric system in the 19th and 20th centuries gradually made systems like polveutinasteet obsolete. However, remnants of these older measurement traditions might persist in colloquial language or in the interpretation of historical documents and property records. Understanding polveutinasteet is crucial for historians and genealogists studying the economic and social history of the regions where it was in use.