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furlong

furlong

11 9.3
A distance of 220 yards often used in horse racing
  • noun
  • /ˈfɜrˌlɔŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : furlong
  • The racehorse sprinted the last furlong to claim victory.
  • the final furlong
  • six furlongs
  • five furlongs

So in other words, the fur, the inch to the furlong is the same as the mile to the earth.

Examples

How Long

furlong
  • Specialized
11 9.3
toise
  • Archaic
9.9
meter
  • Specialized
621 1.0
yard
1.0
foot
1.0
inch
1.0

Surface Forms

furlong singular
furlongs plural

Morphology

furlong = furrow + long (opaque) = furrow + long

Although historically a compound of 'furrow' + 'long', the first element is archaic and the unit is lexicalized, so modern learners cannot derive '220 yards' from the parts.

Etymology

Furlong comes from old words furrow, meaning a long line cut in a field, and long, so it originally meant 'a furrow long'. That's why a furlong today is a set distance of 220 yards used for measuring land and in horse racing.