furlong

[fur-lawng, -long]

noun

a unit of distance, equal to 220 yards (201 meters) or ⅛ mile (0.2 km). Abbreviation: fur.

Nearby words

Origin of furlong

before 900; Middle English; Old English furlang length of a furrow. See furrow, long¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for furlong

But Furlong became legally emancipated that same year, at the age of 16.
The John Connor Curse: Nick Stahl, Edward Furlong and Christian Bale|Marlow Stern|May 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"Well, I could not have believed, if I hadn't seen it," said Furlong.
Handy Andy, Volume One|Samuel Lover
"As for bwibewy, neve' mind that," said Furlong, with a very wise nod of his head and a sagacious wink.
Handy Andy, Volume One|Samuel Lover
But for other buildings, there is nothing now left in it, except a church, which stands about a furlong eastward from the castle.
Early Travels in Palestine|Arculf et al.

In this way we finished the whole, and then carried it to my shop, which was about a furlong distant.
The Pirates Own Book|Charles Ellms
The door at length was forced, Furlong rescued, and the old lady separated from him.
Handy Andy, Volume 2 (of 2)|Samuel Lover

British Dictionary definitions for furlong

furlong

noun

a unit of length equal to 220 yards (201.168 metres)

Word Origin for furlong

Old English furlang, from furh furrow + lang long 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for furlong

furlong

Old English furlang measure of distance of roughly 220 yards, originally the length of a furrow in the common field of 10 acres, from furh "furrow" + lang "long." The "acre" of the common field being variously measured, the furlong was fixed 9c. on the classical stadium, one-eighth of a Roman mile.