Cubit
Cubit
Cubit (/ˈkjuːbɪt/; from the Latin cubitum, meaning "elbow") is an ancient unit of length that had several definitions according to each of the various cultures that used the unit. These definitions ranged between 444mm and 529.2mm, but the unit was based on the distance from the elbow to the middle finger tip.
Etymology
The term cubit comes from the Latin cubitum, which means "elbow". This is because the measurement was originally based on the length of a man's arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. In ancient cultures, it was a common method of measurement.
History
The cubit was used in many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The measurement varied between cultures, with the Roman cubit being shorter than the Greek and Egyptian cubits.
Related Terms
- Ell: An English unit of measurement that is longer than a cubit.
- Foot: A unit of measurement that is shorter than a cubit.
- Yard: A unit of measurement that is approximately two cubits.
- Hand: A unit of measurement that is shorter than a cubit.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cubit
- Wikipedia's article - Cubit
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