Definition of cubit
: any of various ancient units of length based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and usually equal to about 18 inches (46 centimeters)
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cubit was our Word of the Day on 11/20/2013. Hear the podcast!
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Recent Examples of cubit from the Web
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The English from at least medieval times have hewed to their own measurements—cubits, stones, miles, acres—some of which are still used in America.
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Cubit cut his ditch through a natural levee, formed by the pileup of sediment on the river's bank.
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These towers were said to be 60 cubits (90 feet) tall and covered with skins which were treated in vinegar, mud, and fire-resistant substances.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cubit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
The cubit is an ancient unit of length that may have originated in Egypt close to 5,000 years ago. Cubit can refer to various units used in the ancient world, the actual length of which varied from time to time and place to place, but which was generally equivalent to the length of the human arm from elbow to fingertip-roughly about a foot and a half. (Appropriately, the word's source is a Latin word meaning "elbow.") Starting with the Wycliffe Bible in 1382, cubit has been used as the English translation for the measurement known in Biblical Hebrew as the ammah and in Koine as the péchus.
Origin and Etymology of cubit
Middle English, from Latin cubitum elbow, cubit
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First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearCUBIT Defined for Kids
Definition of cubit for Students
: a unit of length usually equal to about 18 inches (46 centimeters)
Learn More about cubit
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cubit
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