fathom
10
6.5
A unit of length equal to six feet used to measure water depth
- noun
- /ˈfæðəm/
- Specialized
:
braza
- We're down to 60 fathoms of line left, sir!
- depth in fathoms
- 4-fathom
- 100 fathoms
Examples
-
Bottom is shoaling, captain, 25 fathoms.
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Only got six fathoms under us.
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Fifteen fathom and clear away!
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Full fathom five thy father lies;
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Is that 13 fathoms, is that 13?
-
That is 9,300 fathoms down.
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Seven fathoms, sir.
-
This is it if you're sure it's this 14-fathom ledge.
-
200 fathoms.
-
The ship was anchored in 20 fathoms of water.
Idioms
Compounds
How Long
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word fathom comes from an old English word fæðm meaning 'outstretched arms' or 'embrace'. Sailors used the distance of a man's arm span to measure depth, so a fathom became a unit of about six feet for water depth.