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.
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.