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P.A./T.
tiler
Mar 11, 2011 11:07
13 yrs ago
English term

deccayard

English Science Metrology technical drawing
I came accross this term in a test concerning technical drawing. There is a question about units usually used to define dimensions. The possible answers are inches, feet, yards and deccayard (in singular). Could anyone tell me if this name is correct (I suspect the text was translated from German). If so, what kind of unit is it? Thanks in advance!
Responses
4 +3 decayard (10 yards)

Discussion

kamilw Mar 11, 2011:
Yeah, that's why I said it's weird to use a metric prefix for an imperial unit. I used both systems at work (e.g. pound per square inch was a commonly used pressure unit) but the two have never been mixed.
Jack Doughty Mar 11, 2011:
It is an invented word. The Imperial measurement system is not a decimal system. Google turns up nothing whatsoever for deccayard or decayard. Units above one yard are:
1 rod, pole or perch = five and a half yards;
1 chain = 22 yards;
1 furlong = 220 yards = a quarter of a mile;
8 furlongs = 1 mile.
Letra (asker) Mar 11, 2011:
As I have mentioned it is one of possible answers in a test so it is possible that authors invented this word to make it more difficult. I searched Google first but there were hardly any results.
Alison Sabedoria (X) Mar 11, 2011:
American / Canadian? The idea comes up in this discussion on trying to decimalise varies aspects of N. American life, especially the football field: http://boards.sonypictures.com/boards/showthread.php?t=13670...
The suggestion would appear to be more fanciful than serious - I doubt it's ever been used. But I'm prepared to be proved wrong... =)
kamilw Mar 11, 2011:
Yeah, I think it would be a lot more natural to use yards instead.
Bashiqa Mar 11, 2011:
Inches feet and yards are fine but decayards? Strange question as the English have used metric measurements for some considerable time.

Responses

+3
7 mins
Selected

decayard (10 yards)

It seems weird to use a decimal prefix to a non-decimal unit, but it can't be anything else. BTW it's spelt with single 'c'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2011-03-11 11:16:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"i agree that fractional points are better. i see football in yards, not decayards."
http://www.thegamerslab.com/community/eafl-community/34449-e...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2011-03-11 11:21:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There are kiloyards, kilomiles, hectomiles, decamiles etc.
http://www.convertunits.com/info/kiloyard
http://deathbymountain.blogspot.com/2010/08/275-decamiles.ht...

... but people agree it's silly :)
"Perhaps you could work around it by listing mileage rates per
hundred miles and enter a 17 mile trip as 0.17 "hundred miles" or
"miles/100"? As silly as that sounds, it is probably better than
hectomiles."
http://www.accountantforums.com/invoice-calculations-t66939....
Peer comment(s):
neutral Bashiqa : Is this an English word?
3 mins
I don't think it's really correct, I'm just explaining it (see my added note).
agree British Diana
1 hr
thanks!
agree Jörgen Slet
5 hrs
thanks!
agree Polangmar
12 hrs
dzięki!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
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