Handbreadth
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm.
"Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee:"
- 2 any unit of length based on the breadth of the human hand wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee:"
Etymology
Alteration (due to breadth) of Middle English handbrede, hondbrede (“handbreadth”); equivalent to hand + breadth. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Houndebratte (“handbreadth”), West Frisian hânbreedte (“handbreadth”), Dutch handbreedte (“handbreadth”), German Handbreite (“handbreadth”) and Handbreit, Swedish handsbredd (“handbreadth”), Norwegian håndsbredd (“handbreadth”), Icelandic handbreidd (“handbreadth”).