cable's length

American  

Or cable length

noun

1. a nautical unit of length equivalent to 720 feet (219 meters) in the U.S. Navy and 608 feet (185 meters) in the British Navy.

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Etymology

Origin of cable's length

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cable's length

"Us be overtakin' them," and he nodded in the direction of the two boats that were still leading by less than a cable's length.

From With Beatty off Jutland A Romance of the Great Sea Fight by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

A cable's length from shore, and just visible through the mist, was a large indistinct shape.

From Rounding up the Raider A Naval Story of the Great War by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

About a cable's length from us lay a large European steamship, flying the yellow flag at the fore.

From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Maturin Murray Ballou

All was suppressed excitement, for the armed small craft was now within a half a cable's length.

From Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 by James Barnes

Then, pushing off, they resumed their oars, pulling desperately for the ship, which was now gathering sternway at a distance of a cable's length.

From The Wireless Officer by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman