fadme

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English fæþm.

Noun

fadme (uncountable)

1. A fathom: a unit of length equal to six feet.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Knẏghtes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 38, verso:

     heigh labour / and greet apparaillẏnge
     was at the seruẏse / and the fẏr makẏnge
     That w^t his grene top / the heuene raughte
     and twentẏ fadme of brede / the armes straughte

     Great labour and appareling came to the service and the fire-making, for the pyre's green top reached to the skies, and its arms were twenty fathoms wide

Descendants

• English: fathom