Finger (unit)
A finger (sometimes fingerbreadth or finger's breadth) is any of several units of measurement that are approximately the width of an adult human finger. [Exactly which part of the finger should be used is not defined; the width at the base of fingernail (#6 in the sketch) is typically less than that at the knuckle (#5).]
The digit, also known as digitus or digitus transversus (Latin), dactyl (Greek) or dactylus, or finger's breadthTemplate:Snd Template:Frac of an inch or Template:Frac of a foot.<ref name="WebsterWalker1830">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Zupko1985">Template:Cite book</ref> (about 2 cm)
In medicine and related disciplines (anatomy, radiology, etc.) the fingerbreadth (literally the width of a finger) is an informal but widely used unit of measure.<ref name="The American Journal of the Medical Sciences">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Skinner1997">Template:Cite book</ref>
In the measurement of distilled spirits, a finger of whiskey refers to the amount of whiskey that would fill a glass to the level of one finger wrapped around the glass at the bottom.<ref name="University chronicle">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="McClure's magazine">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Inc.Agencies2000">Template:Cite book</ref>
Another definition (from Noah Webster): "nearly an inch."<ref name="Webster1896">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Markham1739">Template:Cite book</ref>
Finger is also the name of a longer unit of length, used historically in cloth measurement, to mean one eighth of a yard or 4Template:Sfrac inches.<ref name="Webster1896" /><ref name="The Encyclopedia Americana">Template:Cite book</ref> (114.3 mm) Again, which finger and whose finger, is not defined.
These units have no legal status but remain in use for 'rough and ready' comparisons.
See alsoEdit
- Template:Anli ('6' in the diagram above)
- Template:Anli
- Template:Anli (before 1826)
- Template:Anli (from 1826)
- Template:Anli