cubit

American  

[kyoo-bit] / ˈkyu bɪt /

noun

1. an ancient linear unit based on the length of the forearm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, usually from 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 centimeters).

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cubit British  

/ ˈkjuːbɪt /

noun

1. an ancient measure of length based on the length of the forearm

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Etymology

Origin of cubit

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Old English, from Latin cubitum “elbow, cubit”; perhaps akin to cubāre “to lie down”

Example Sentences

Kaaronen is a kayaker and woodworker who makes his own paddles—basing their length on a traditional measurement of his fathom plus his cubit.

From Science Magazine • May 31, 2023

Kotler explains that quantum computing could rely on devices that link electrical components for processing and mechanical objects for memory—much as the authors of this paper coupled a superconducting cubit to the sapphire crystal.

From Scientific American • May 12, 2023

From the forearm-length cubit to the lump of metal that defined the kilogram, measurement is a powerful tool that Vincent investigates with unalloyed delight.

From Washington Post • Nov. 30, 2022

The long house, with its cubit coils and crystal shields, was not what protected us from the pandemic.

From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2020

He was withering in his response: Aristotle says that a hundred-pound ball falling from a height of one hundred cubits hits the ground before a one-pound ball has fallen one cubit.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin