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