toise

American  

[toiz] / tɔɪz /

noun

1. an old French unit of length equivalent to 6.395 feet (1.949 meters).

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Etymology

Origin of toise

1590–1600; < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *tēsa, (feminine singular), Latin tēnsa ( bracchia ) outstretched (arms), neuter plural taken as feminine singular See tense ¹

Example Sentences

These towers are said to be about one toise higher than those of Notre Dame.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

The toise is equal to 6·3946 English feet.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

"Well pitched, Hugh of Clatford," cried the old knight; "well pitched; a toise beyond Sir Simeon."

From Agincourt The Works of G. P. R. James, Volume XX by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)

In Market Square, Philadelphia, land was worth from 3,000 to 4,000 francs per sq. toise, and in Wall Street, New York, about 4,000 francs.

From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm

Subsequently, he investigated the expansion of a toise of iron from the variation in the period of his pendulum.

From Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Papers 34-44 On Science and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, 1966 by Lenzen, Victor Fritz