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daktylos

daktylos

9.9
An ancient Greek measure of length about the width of a finger
  • noun
  • /ˈdæktɪloʊs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : dáctilo
  • One daktylos is approximately one centimeter.

Examples

  • A daktylos was approximately the width of an adult's finger in Ancient Greece.

  • The ancient architect used a daktylos as a standard measure in his design.

  • Measurements on the old tablet are given in daktyloi rather than modern units.

  • The daktylos was used in ancient measurements.

  • A daktylos was approximately the width of an adult's finger in Ancient Greece.

  • The ancient architect used a daktylos as a standard measure in his design.

  • Measurements on the old tablet are given in daktyloi rather than modern units.

Synonyms

finger
vsdaktylos
  • Archaic
63 9.8

A small measure about the width of a finger

is defined more precisely as an ancient one centimeter unit
digit
vsdaktylos
  • Archaic
3 9.9

An old small measure of length about three quarters of an inch

is a smaller ancient unit of about one centimeter rather than two
fingerbreadth
vsdaktylos
  • Archaic
1 9.9

The width of a finger used as a quick measure

is a fixed ancient measure of about one centimeter not just a general gauge
finger's breadth
vsdaktylos
  • Archaic
8.4

A small distance equal to the width of a finger, often used to show a very small amount

is a specific ancient unit near one centimeter rather than a simple width measure

Surface Forms

daktylos singular
daktyloses plural
daktyloi plural

Etymology

Daktylos comes from Greek and means 'finger', so it was used as a small unit of length about the width of a finger. A helpful way to remember it is the English word digit, which also comes from 'finger' and 'number', because a daktylos is literally a 'finger's breadth'.