handbreadth

Etymology

An alteration, under the influence of breadth, of Middle English handbrede, hondbrede ("handbreadth"), equivalent to hand + breadth. It is cognate with Saterland Frisian Houndebratte ("handbreadth"), West Frisian hânbreedte ("handbreadth"), Dutch handbreedte ("handbreadth"), German Handbreite ("handbreadth") and Handbreit, Swedish handsbredd ("handbreadth"), Norwegian håndsbredd ("handbreadth") and Icelandic handbreidd ("handbreadth").