<Dd> 7.92 inches or one 100th of a chain . </Dd> <Dd> Width of the outstretched hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger, 3 palms = 9 inches </Dd> <Dd> Prior to the Anglo - Saxon invasions, the Roman foot of 11.65 inches (296 mm) was used . The Anglo - Saxons introduced a North - German foot of 13.2 inches (335 mm), divided into 4 palms or 12 thumbs, while the Roman foot continued to be used in the construction crafts . In the late 13th century, the modern foot of 304.8 mm was introduced, equal to exactly ⁄ Anglo - Saxon foot . </Dd> <Dd> From fingertips to elbow, 18 inches . </Dd>

An english measure of length equivalent to 12 inches