Convert hand to furlong Online | Free Length Converter

Hand

A hand is a traditional unit of length primarily used to measure the height of horses. It is equal to 4 inches or 10.16 centimeters.

The origin of the hand as a measurement comes from using the width of a human hand, and it has been standardized at 4 inches for consistency in horse measurement. Horse height is expressed in "hands," measured from the ground to the highest point of the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades).

Key points:

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  1 hand = 4 inches

  
  
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  1 hand = 10.16 centimeters

  
  
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  Used mainly for measuring horse height

  
  
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  Horse height is often given in hands and inches, e.g., 15.2 hands means 15 hands plus 2 inches

  
  

The hand remains the standard unit for horse height in many English-speaking countries.

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Although considered outdated for most uses, the furlong remains a culturally significant unit in some specific fields.