shaftment

Meaning

Noun

  • An obsolete unit of length defined as 6 inches, which equals 2 palms or span; today 6 inches equals exactly 15.24 cm. (Before the 12th century, a shaftment was defined as inches.)
  • Traditionally the width of the fist and outstretched thumb.

Origin

  • From Middle English schaftmonde, from Old English sÄ‹eaftmund ("a palm, a palm's length"), equivalent to shaft + mound.

Modern English dictionary

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