kappa

Definitions

• An old unit of measure for volume of dry things, still used for potatoes in market squares. A modern kappa is equal to 5 liters (iso kappa), or 2 liters (pikku kappa), but during the period of autonomy under Russia it was 1/30 of tynnyri (barrel) or 5.4961 liters, and before that under the Swedish rule it was 1/32 of tynnyri or 4.58 liters. A further complication is that Swedish and Russian barrels were not of equal size.