Pikul
/ˈpiː.kʊl/noun
A traditional Southeast Asian unit of weight, approximately 60–63.5 kilograms, formerly used especially for trade.
Did you know?The unit reflects a preindustrial world where measurement was physically embodied: trade quantities were linked directly to the burden a porter could carry.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 17th Century
Malay
pikul
“To carry a load on the shoulder or by means of a carrying pole”
Early Modern Period
Malay
pikul
“A standard burden or trading weight based on a carried load”
17th Century
Dutch
pikol
“A Southeast Asian commercial weight”
17th–18th Century
English
picul
“A weight used in Asian trade, generally about 133 pounds”
Modern English
English
pikul
“A variant spelling of picul, a traditional Southeast Asian unit of weight”