verst

or verste, werste

[ vurst, verst ]

noun

1. a Russian measure of distance equivalent to 3,500 feet, or 0.6629 mile (1.067 kilometers).

verst

/ vɛəst; vɜːst /

noun

1. a unit of length, used in Russia, equal to 1.067 kilometres (0.6629 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of verst¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from French verste or German Werst, from Russian verstá; Old Russian vĭrsta “age, agemate, pair, measure of length,” cognate with Czech vrstva “layer, stratum, bed,” Polish warstwa “layer, coating, sheet,” Serbo-Croatian vŕsta “sort, kind, species,” Old Church Slavonic vrĭsta “age, time of life,” from unrecorded Slavic vĭrsta “turn, bend,” from the Proto-Indo-European extended root wert- “to turn, wind,” source of Latin vertere “to turn,” and English suffix -ward ( def ); convert ¹, verse

Word History and Origins

Origin of verst¹

C16: from French verste or German Werst, from Russian versta line

Example Sentences

For the distance of half a verst the vehicle forced its way through a compact crowd which quickly reformed its ranks.

From Project Gutenberg

In the empty streets, every conversation could be heard a verst away; voices and footsteps re-echoed on the wooden pavement.

From Project Gutenberg

When he had gone a verst his strength gave out, his feet were sore.

From Project Gutenberg

Its length is six hundred verst, and its peaks seem to be crushed under the heavy clouds.

From Project Gutenberg

We had marched a verst or more when thick clouds began to gather in the sky, and loud rumblings were heard.

From Project Gutenberg