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prettygoodwordfistmele (FIST-meyl) - n., a unit of measure equal to the breadth of the clenched fist plus extended thumb.
Equal to about 6½ or 7 inches (16½ to 18 cm). A traditional measurement still used today in archery, as a measure of the brace height, or best distance between the string and bow. It's also used in kayaking to measure certain distances of the boat, where it's the kayaker's own fistmele that's used to ensure that the boat has a proper fit for that person. This is an old one, dating to Old English, from fist (same meaning as in Modern English) + mǣl, measure.
---L.
Equal to about 6½ or 7 inches (16½ to 18 cm). A traditional measurement still used today in archery, as a measure of the brace height, or best distance between the string and bow. It's also used in kayaking to measure certain distances of the boat, where it's the kayaker's own fistmele that's used to ensure that the boat has a proper fit for that person. This is an old one, dating to Old English, from fist (same meaning as in Modern English) + mǣl, measure.
---L.
