Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of weight: A traditional Asian unit of weight, historically used in trade, especially in China and Southeast Asia. Its exact value has varied by region and time period, but it is commonly defined as approximately 133 pounds (about 60.5 kilograms). The term originates from the perceived load a grown man can carry.

Usage

• As a unit of measurement: The word "picul" is used to quantify the weight of goods, particularly in historical or regional trade contexts involving commodities like rice, tea, or spices.
  • The merchant shipped fifty piculs of rice.
  • In the 19th century, tea was often traded by the picul.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and Regional Context: The "picul" is not part of the modern metric or imperial systems. Its use today is primarily in historical descriptions or within specific local trade practices in Asia. Its value was not universally standardized.
  • The treaty specified a tax of one silver dollar per picul of opium.

Variants and Related Words

• Pikul: An alternative spelling for "picul".
• Dan (擔): The Chinese character and term from which "picul" is derived.
• Quintal: A separate, though sometimes conflated, unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms or approximately 220 pounds.

Synonyms

• Unit of weight: A general term for any standard amount used to measure heaviness.
• Traditional measure: Refers to non-standardized, historical units of measurement.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning of "picul" is strictly as a noun denoting a specific unit of weight. It does not function as a verb or adjective.
• The definition "the load a grown man can carry" is the etymological origin explaining the unit's practical basis, not a separate meaning for general use. One would not typically say "He carried a picul" to mean a heavy load; it specifically refers to the defined unit.

Noun

1. a unit of weight used in some parts of Asia; approximately equal to 133 pounds (the load a grown man can carry)