The fathom is a unit of measurement used for nautical depths, originally based on the outstretched arms of an adult male. It measures six feet (1.8 meters) and dates back to ancient Greek times. The term has also been used to describe understanding. A burial at sea traditionally took place at a depth of at least five fathoms. The fathom was also used to measure distances on land, but has been supplanted by other units of measure.
A fathom is a unit of measurement that appears most often in the context of nautical depths. Like many seemingly strange units of measurement, the arm was originally related to a measurement on the human body, in this case the outstretched arms of an adult male. When measurements became standardized, the arm as a unit of measure was retained, and many sailors continued to use it to discuss water depth. Consequently, many marine instruments give depths in fathoms, meters, and feet.
Officially, an arm measures six feet (1.8 meters) in length, although some countries quibble over the fractional distances of the measurement. The fathom is an ancient unit of measurement, dating back at least to ancient Greek times. The use of the Old English term faethm for “outstretched arms” to discuss measurement appears to be quite ancient, with the adoption of “fathom” for nautical soundings occurring in the 1600s. Typically, a knot was tied at each length of rope fathoms, allowing sailors to count fathoms as they dropped the rope to the bottom.
Since one can speak of “peering into” something in the sense of taking surveys or measurements, the term has been used more generally to describe understanding or understanding something. This usage of the word emerged in the early 1600s, shortly after the word began to be employed in the context of measuring depth. Something that cannot be measured or understood can be called “immeasurable”.
William Shakespeare fans may be familiar with the phrase “full fathom five thy Father Lie,” which appears in his play The Tempest. By convention, a burial at sea traditionally took place at a depth of at least five fathoms. It has been suggested that bodies buried at this depth are less likely to surface, but more likely the sailors simply wanted to ensure their mates were deeply submerged as a sign of respect. On land, a traditional burial is usually performed at a depth of one meter, leading to the slang term “six feet under”.
At one point, the fathom was also used to measure distances on land. This trend has diminished, as the arm has been supplanted by yards, meters, feet, and other units of measure that are smaller and therefore potentially more accurate. Old maps, however, may still indicate measurements in fathoms.
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