52MeowCat t1_iuf4not wrote on October 30, 2022 at 9:15 PM

Also, european shoe size is based on their length Correction: not based on their length but can be estimated by them.

Implausibilibuddy t1_iugv7cq wrote on October 31, 2022 at 6:02 AM

What? No, EU sizes are based on 2/3rds of a centimetre, or Paris Points. Are you getting confused with UK sizes? Those weren't based on carob nuts, but barleycorns - the length of an average corn of barley.

52MeowCat t1_iugx86y wrote on October 31, 2022 at 6:32 AM

Ok, I looked it up and you're right, it is not based on it it is just that carob seeds can be used to estimate shoe size because of their consistency.

Amaranthine t1_iuh88um wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:23 AM

I assume barley/poppyseeds are also pretty consistent, which is why UK (and US) sizes are based off that :)

So for anyone wondering what one shoe size is and why it doesn't quite map with centimeters... it's because 1 US size is a barleycorn, which = 1/3 of an inch; close enough that sizes will more or less map to 1cm (2.54cm per inch), but not qute.