sesma

See also: Sesma

English

Etymology

From Spanish sesma, from Latin sexta (“sixth”), from its use as a sixth of the vara (Spanish yard or rod).

Noun

sesma (plural sesmas)

1. (historical) A traditional Spanish unit of length, equivalent to about 13.9 cm.

Coordinate terms

• pulgada (¹⁄₆ sesma), coto (³⁄₄ sesma), palmo (1+¹⁄₂ sesmas), pie (2 sesmas), codo (3 sesmas), vara (6 sesmas)

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Latin sexta (“sixth”), altered by analogy with septima (“seventh”). Doublet of sexto and siesta. In related to the unit of length, from forming one-sixth of the vara (Spanish yard or rod).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsesma/ [ˈsez.ma]
• Rhymes: -esma
• Syllabification: ses‧ma

Noun

sesma f (plural sesmas)

1. (historical) sesma, half-foot (a traditional unit of length, equivalent to about 13.9 cm)

   Synonym: jeme

2. (historical) a subdivision of the kingdom of Aragón

Coordinate terms

• (unit of length): pulgada (¹⁄₆ sesma), coto (³⁄₄ sesma), palmo (1+¹⁄₂ sesmas), pie (2 sesmas), codo (3 sesmas), vara (6 sesmas)

Further reading

• “sesmo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014