Convert furlong to span (cloth) Online | Free Length Converter

Furlong

A furlong is a traditional unit of distance used primarily in agriculture and horse racing. It is equal to 220 yards, 660 feet, or 1/8 of a mile (approximately 201.168 meters).

The word "furlong" comes from the Old English words furh (furrow) and lang (long), originally referring to the length of a furrow in a 10-acre field. It was historically used in England to measure field lengths for plowing.

In modern times, the furlong is rarely used outside of horse racing, where race distances are still often given in furlongs, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Conversions:

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  1 furlong = 660 feet

  
  
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  1 furlong = 220 yards

  
  
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  1 furlong ≈ 201.168 meters

  
  
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  8 furlongs = 1 mile

  
  

Although considered outdated for most uses, the furlong remains a culturally significant unit in some specific fields.

Span (Cloth)

A span is an old unit of length based on the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger of a fully extended hand. Traditionally, it measures about 9 inches or 22.86 centimeters.

In the context of cloth and textiles, the span was used as a convenient, informal measure to estimate small lengths of fabric before standardized rulers became widespread. It was helpful for tailors and traders to quickly gauge lengths during measuring and cutting.

While the span is largely obsolete as a formal unit today, it reflects historical measurement practices tied closely to the human body, similar to the cubit or hand.

Summary:

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  1 span ≈ 9 inches (22.86 cm)

  
  
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  Based on the hand’s spread

  
  
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  Used historically in cloth measurement and tailoring

  
  
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  Now mostly of historical and cultural interest