klafter

See also: Klafter

English

Etymology

From German Klafter.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklɑf.tɚ/

Noun

klafter (plural klafters)

1. A unit of length formerly widely used in Central Europe, derived from the span of a man's outstretched arms, typically defined as six local feet (equivalent to a fathom) or about 1.8 meters.
   • 1818, Richard Bright, Travels from Vienna Through Lower Hungary: With Some Remarks on the State of Vienna During the Congress, in the Year 1814:

     ... for the purpose of working the machine, employed in raising water from the mines, and a tunnel of 300 klafters long, passing through a mountain, which serves as a road for foot-passengers, between Herrengrund and Altgebirg.

   • 1874, W. P. Blake, Report on the Vienna Exposition, in the United States Congressional Serial Set, page 133:

     The building for the protection of the horses was erected on three sides of a square of 48 klafter, and was 12 klafter wide, making a structure 72 klafters long on each side, giving a covered space of 2,304 square klafter.

   • 1947, Pacific Northwest Quarterly:

     Ten or more families unite to dig a hole 20 to 30 klafters long and 3 to 4 wide, add to this excavation with a frame of driftwood,148 of which they also make the roof, and cover it with long dry grass or sod, which is held down with […]

   • 2012 May 31, C. Mileto, F. Vegas, V. Cristini, Rammed Earth Conservation, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 84:

     According to this instruction, one lot must be 75 to 100 klafters long and 12 to 15 klafters wide (1 klafter = 1[.]896 m). A house must be on the street line of a lot with its narrow side and the distance between houses should be at least […]

Dutch

Etymology

From German Klafter (“fathom”), from Middle High German, from Old High German klāftra.

Noun

klafter f (plural klafters, diminutive klaftertje n)

1. a measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms; fathom

Synonyms

• (fathom): vadem, vaam