What is a Fathom?
A fathom is a unit of measurement which most often appears in the context of nautical depths. Like many seemingly odd units of measurement, the fathom was originally linked to a measurement on the human body, in this case the outstretched arms of an adult male. When measurements were standardized, the fathom as a unit of measurement was retained, and many sailors continued to use it to discuss the depth of water. As a result, many marine instruments give depths in fathoms as well as meters and feet. Officially, a fathom measures six feet (1.8 meters) in length, although some countries quibble on fractional distances of the measurement. The fathom is an ancient unit of measurement, dating back at least to the times of Ancient Greece. The use of the old English term faethm for “outstretched arms” to discuss the measurement appears to be quite old, with the adoption of “fathom” for taking nautical soundings occurring in the 1600s. Typically, a knot would be made at each fathom length of r
