A "hand" is a unit of measurement commonly used in the context of measuring the height of horses. In the United States and some other English-speaking countries, a hand is defined as exactly 4 inches or 10.16 centimeters.
Horses are typically measured in hands from the ground to the highest point of their withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades). This measurement is a convenient way to describe a horse's height without relying on feet and inches or meters.
For example, a horse that measures 15.2 hands is 15 hands and 2 inches tall. Horses can vary in height, and the hand system provides a standardized way to communicate a horse's size, which is particularly important in horse racing, equestrian sports, and the horse industry in general.
The nautical league in the United Kingdom is a unit of nautical measurement that is traditionally defined as three nautical miles. A nautical mile, also known as a sea mile, is a unit of distance used in navigation and marine contexts. It is based on the circumference of the Earth and is approximately equal to one minute of latitude along a meridian.
In the United Kingdom and many other maritime nations, a nautical league is considered to be equal to three nautical miles, which is roughly equivalent to 5.556 kilometers or 3.452 statute miles (land miles). This measurement is used for maritime and navigational purposes, especially for calculating distances at sea.
It's worth noting that the use of traditional nautical measurements like leagues has largely been replaced by more standardized and precise modern navigation methods that rely on nautical miles and other internationally recognized units. Nonetheless, these older units of measurement may still be referenced in historical documents or traditional maritime contexts.