rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycubitAncient unit of length
noun

cubit

KYOO-bit/ˈkjuːbɪt/

An ancient unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the fingertips.

The guide measures a cubit from her elbow to her fingertips.

An ancient craftsperson compares a plain measuring rod directly with the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, making the forearm-based unit visible.
Etymology
cubitLatinelbow, forearm

The Latin word for 'forearm' became the name of a measure running from elbow to fingertip. The body part supplied a practical length standard, usually about 18–22 inches.

In context

UC Berkeley Events25:25
And that's how they did it in ancient Egypt. The royal cubit of ancient Egypt was the length of the Pharaoh's forearm.
A New Measure: The Revolutionary, Quantum Reform of the Modern Metric System

More examples

  • The ancient plan gives the wall's height as twenty cubits.
  • The exact length of a cubit varies across ancient cultures.
  • The museum displays a measuring rod marked in cubits.

Forms

cubit · cubits