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Length/Distance | Convert from inch [international, U.S.] to shaftment |
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Common Length Conversions Metric Length Conversions Unit Definition (inch [international, U.S.]) The inch is a traditional measurement of distance equal to 1/12 of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimeters. The Old English word "ynce" is derived from the Latin uncia, meaning a 1/12 part. It follows that "inch" and "ounce" actually have the same origin. The inch was originally defined in England in two ways: as the length of three barleycorns laid end to end, or as the width of a man's thumb at the base of the nail. The barleycorn definition is peculiarly English, but the thumb-width definition is generic. In many european languages the word for inch actually also means thumb: examples include the Dutch duim, Swedish tum, French pouce, and Spanish pulgada. In the history of English units the inch seems to come before the foot, as after the Norman conquest of 1066, the foot was defined as 12 inches, rather than the inch being defined as 1/12 foot. Unit Definition (shaftment) A shaftment, when used as a unit of length, is usually six inches or two palms, i.e. 15.24 cm (for the international inch). It is thought to be the distance from the tip of the outstretched thumb to the other side of the palm.In English this unit has mostly fallen out of use, as do others based on the human arm: digit (1/8 shaftment), finger (7/48 shaftment), palm (½ shaftment) hand (2/3 shaftment), span (1½ shaftments), cubit (3 shaftments) and ell (7½ shaftments).
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