Convert Barleycorn (barleycorn) to Nautical League (UK) (nl (UK)) instantly.
About these units
Barleycorn (barleycorn)
The barleycorn is an English unit, approximately 1/3 inch (8.47 mm), originally based on the length of a grain of barley. It served as a small-scale measure in tailoring, shoe sizing, and other crafts. In particular, the English shoe size system was historically based on barleycorns, with increments in size corresponding to single barleycorn units. This unit exemplifies the anthropometric and agronomic origins of measurement. Even today, the barleycorn's influence persists in the traditional shoe sizing system in the UK and the US, providing continuity with historical practices.
Nautical League (UK) (nl (UK))
This older British unit corresponds to 3 UK nautical miles, or 18,240 feet (about 5,563.6 meters), slightly longer than the international version. Before international standardization, distances in British naval operations were often recorded using UK nautical leagues, especially in long-range maritime planning. Like other historical British units, the UK nautical league reflects the era when each naval power maintained its own measurement standards. While no longer used for navigation, it appears in historic ship logs, naval battles, and exploration records—especially for events predating the 20th century. For historians, the distinction between the UK league and the international one is critical to accurate interpretation of maritime distances.