Replies

To: SunkenCiv

The fathom was the distance fingertip-to-fingertip of a (Viking) man with his arms outstretched.

That makes perfect sense. A length of rope could be measured easily that way, while trying to compare it to height would be cumbersome.

33 posted on 07/05/2005 9:18:41 AM PDT by RightWhale (withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty)

To: RightWhale

We're good at fathoming things around here. ;')

35 posted on 07/05/2005 9:23:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)

To: Frumious Bandersnatch

see message 33.

53 posted on 07/06/2005 8:33:06 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)

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