cubit
NounUS[kyoo-bit]/ˈkjubɪt/2 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)cubits
- an ancient unit of length based on the length of the forearmType of linear unit, linear measure
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Cu′bit (kū′bĭt), noun
Origin: L. cubitum, cubitus; elbow, ell, cubit, fr. (because the elbow serves for leaning upon) cubare to lie down, recline; cf. Gr. κύβιτον elbow, κύπτειν to bend, stoop, κυφός bent, stooping, humpbacked. Cf. Incumbent, Covey.
1. Anatomy The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow to wrist. obsolete
2. A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger.
☞ The cubit varies in length in different countries, the Roman cubit being 17.47 inches, the Greek 18.20, the Hebrew somewhat longer, and the English 18 inches.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54