shaftment
shaftment · shaftments
An obsolete unit of length defined as 6 inches, which equals 2 palms or ²⁄₃ spanAn obsolete unit of length defined as 6 inches, which equals 2 palms or ²⁄₃ span; today 6 inches equals exactly 15.24 cm. (Before the 12th century, a shaftment was defined as 6+¹⁄₂ inches.)
Meaning
2 sensesAn obsolete unit of length defined as 6 inches, which equals 2 palms or ²⁄₃ span; today 6 inches equals exactly 15.24 cm. (Before the 12th century, a shaftment was defined as 6+¹⁄₂ inches.)
Traditionally the width of the fist and outstretched thumb.
A shaftment is the width of the palm and the outstretched thumb.
Origin
From Middle English schaftmonde, from Old English sċeaftmund (“a palm, a palm's length”),From Middle English schaftmonde, from Old English sċeaftmund (“a palm, a palm's length”), equivalent to shaft + mound (“hand”).
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