Fathom - Wikipedia A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial and the U S customary systems equal to 6 feet (1 8288 m), used especially for measuring the depth of water [1] The fathom is neither an international standard (SI) unit, nor an internationally accepted non-SI unit
FATHOM Definition Meaning - Merriam-Webster Fathom comes from the Old English word fæthm, meaning "outstretched arms " The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one's arms straight out from the sides of the body
FATHOM Definition Meaning | Dictionary. com Fathom definition: a unit of length equal to six feet (1 8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements fath See examples of FATHOM used in a sentence
Fathom | depth, ocean, sea | Britannica Fathom, old English measure of length, now standardized at 6 feet (1 83 metre), which has long been used as a nautical unit of depth The longest of many units derived from an anatomical measurement, the fathom originated as the distance from the middle fingertip of one hand to the middle fingertip
Fathom - Definition, Meaning Synonyms | Vocabulary. com To fathom something is to understand it thoroughly It's usually used in the negative, as in "I can't fathom why he doesn't want to go along with us " Fathom is from Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm, "outstretched arms " The Old English and modern English noun also refers to a unit of length used to measure the depth of water
Fathom - definition of fathom by The Free Dictionary 1 a nautical unit of length equal to 6 feet (1 8 m) Abbr : f , fath, fm 2 to measure the depth of by means of a sounding line; sound 3 to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand: to fathom someone's motives fath′om•er, n