arroba
9.9
A traditional measure for liquids used in some Spanish-speaking countries that has different values in different regions
- noun
- /ˈɑːroʊbə/
- Archaic
:
arroba
- In colonial times, an arroba of wine was a common unit of purchase.
Examples
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The recipe called for an arroba of olive oil, which is much more than a liter.
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The merchant offered a discount if customers bought more than one arroba of wine.
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Farmers in Spain once measured their grape harvests in arrobas.
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An arroba is a common measurement.
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The recipe calls for one arroba of olives.
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In Spain, many farmers still sell their produce by the arroba, especially olives and grapes.
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When cooking for a large group, she needed to purchase at least an arroba of olive oil.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Arroba comes from the Arabic ar-rubʿ, which means 'the quarter'. Long ago it named a 'quarter' of a large weight or container, so people used it to measure big amounts of liquid like wine or oil.
