A "finger" is a traditional unit of length used for measuring cloth or fabric. Similar to the span, the finger is based on the width of a human finger. It was historically used in various countries, including England.
In England, a finger was typically equal to about 2.25 inches or approximately 5.715 centimeters. However, like other traditional units of measurement, the precise length of a finger could vary depending on the region and historical context.
A "handbreadth" is a unit of length that is approximately equal to the width of an adult human hand, excluding the fingers. It is often used in various historical and cultural contexts as a convenient way to estimate small lengths or distances. The actual measurement of a handbreadth can vary somewhat depending on the size of an individual's hand, but it is typically around 3 to 4 inches (about 7.6 to 10.2 centimeters).
In some historical systems of measurement, particularly in the ancient Near East and the Bible, the handbreadth was used as a standardized unit for measuring length. It was one of the smaller units within a larger system of measurement, often used for small-scale applications like measuring cloth, the dimensions of objects, or architectural details.
While the handbreadth is not a commonly used unit of measurement in modern times, it remains a useful and intuitive way to approximate small lengths informally, especially when a quick estimate is needed.