vara

[ vahr-uh; Spanish vah-rah; Portuguese vah-ruh ]

noun

, plural va·ras [vahr, -, uh, z, vah, -rahs, vah, -, r, uh, sh].

1. a unit of length in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, varying from about 32 inches (81 centimeters) to about 43 inches (109 centimeters).
2. the square vara, used as a unit of area.

vara

/ ˈvɑːrə /

noun

1. a unit of length used in Spain, Portugal, and South America and having different values in different localities, usually between 32 and 43 inches (about 80 to 108 centimetres)

Word History and Origins

Origin of vara¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish, from Latin vāra “forked pole,” noun use of feminine of vārus “crooked, bent”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vara¹

C17: via Spanish from Latin: wooden trestle, from vārus crooked

Example Sentences

Through it runs a vein about one vara wide, extending east and west for some distance.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a vara fine gentleman, that never loaded his ain gun, and a'most thought it too much trouble to pull the trigger.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the vara the Indians respect, not the man who carries it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a vara imperfect discourse, in ma opinion; ye did well eneucht till ye took them through, but where did ye leave them?

From Project Gutenberg

He represented himself as an alguazil, carrying a vara de justicia and using the name of the inquisitor-general.

From Project Gutenberg