English Explanatory Dictionary

shaftment

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An 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.)
  2. Traditionally the width of the fist and outstretched thumb.

Word forms

shaftment shaftments shaftmond shaftman shaftmound shaftmont shaftmon shafman shafmet shafnet

Etymology

From Middle English schaftmonde, from Old English sċeaftmund (“a palm, a palm's length”), equivalent to shaft + mound (“hand”).

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