handbreadth

noun

hand·​breadth ˈhan(d)-ˌbretth 

-ˌbreth,

-ˌbredth

variants or handsbreadth

ˈhan(d)z-ˌbretth 

-ˌbreth,

-ˌbredth

: any of various units of length varying from about 2¹/₂ to 4 inches based on the breadth of a hand

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above