braccio

American  

[brah-choh, -chee-oh] / ˈbrɑ tʃoʊ, -tʃiˌoʊ /

noun

plural

braccia

1. an old Italian unit of length, usually about 26 or 27 inches (66 or 68 centimeters), but varying between 18 and 28 inches (46 and 71 centimeters).

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Etymology

Origin of braccio

First recorded in 1750–60; from Italian: literally, “an arm,” from Latin bracchium; brace

Example Sentences

But how long was Galileo’s braccio?

From Literature

A few years later when he was in Rome, he sought out a shop which sold measuring sticks and acquired a Florentine braccio.

From Literature

The Venetian braccio was longer than the Florentine, which would have made Galileo’s measurements much more nearly accurate.

From Literature

Thus it is true to say that Galileo made measurements relating to falling bodies; but he did not manage to turn those measurements into facts, as far as Mersenne was concerned, because the measurements were language dependent, and behind the linguistic differences lay institutional decrees: the length of a Florentine braccio was determined by the Florentine state to ensure that merchants did not cheat their customers.

From Literature

Sforza always had Braccio’s soldiers as enemies, so that each checked the other.

From Literature