5/14/08

Fathom

Pronunciation:
\ˈfa-thəm\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm outstretched arms, length of the outstretched arms; akin to Old Norse fathmr fathom, Latin patēre to be open, pandere to spread out, Greek petannynai
Date:
before 12th century
1 : a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water —sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number fathom deep> 2 : comprehension


--Merriam-Webster online