cubit

What is another word for cubit? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, used in the ancient world and in biblical measurements, roughly thirty-five to sixty centimetres.

We haven't recorded synonyms for cubit yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use cubit

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

measured in cubits a cubit long royal cubit biblical cubit

It belongs to historical and biblical writing rather than modern measurement.

Etymology

The word comes from Middle English cubite, which was taken from Latin cubitum, meaning elbow or cubit.

Full origin of cubit →

Frequently asked questions

What is a cubit in modern measurements?

It is roughly thirty-five to sixty centimetres, since it was based on the length of a person's forearm and varied between cultures.

Where is the cubit used today?

It survives mainly in translations of ancient and biblical texts, such as descriptions of Noah's ark, rather than in everyday modern measurement.

Is a cubit the same as an ell?

They are related but not identical; the ell later became recognised as its own separate unit of length.

Nearby words

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