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PALMUS

Volume 13 · 90 words · 1797 Edition

a long measure used both by the Greeks and Romans. The Grecian palmus was of two sorts; the greater, which contained nine finger-breadths, and the less which contained four. The Roman palmus was also of two sorts; the greater, which contained twelve finger breadths, or eight inches and an half English; and the less, which contained four finger-breathths, or near three inches English.—The great palmus was taken from the length of the hand or span; the less from the breadth of it. The Greek palmus was called doron. See MEASURE.