Posted by Clint Dixon (Curator of Antiquities) on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 11:26PM :
In Reply to: Re: websters version posted by chick n 68 on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 8:49PM :
Straight from Websters, a cubit is 18 inches. And we all know from our grade school classes, years ago, that an inch is an ancient unit of measurement equal to the width of one's thumb. So one forearm equals 18 thumbs! Or, one arm (finger tip to chin) equals one yard, which is 36 thumbs (or two forearms)! Also, one foot (foot) equals 12 thumbs! So three feet equal one arm. ;^)
So, to prove it to myself, I measure my thumb which is 1-1/8". Multiply this by 18 and I get 20-1/4", which is the exact length of my forearm from my elbow to my finger tip.
It all makes perfect sense to me. (Don't get me started on how many hands high the horse is that I rode in on, or how long a "rod" is [16-1/2 feet...really...I'm not bragging]).
;^)
Junior
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