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Hand (unit)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeHand (disambiguation).
For the handbreadth or handsbreadth, seePalm (unit).For the handspan, seeSpan (unit).
Hand (unit)
The hand (2) and palm (3) measurements shown, among others, on a human hand
General information
Unit systemImperial/USunits
Unit ofLength
Symbolh, hh
Conversions
1 hin...... is equal to...
Imperial/US units
  • 4 in
  • ⁠1/3⁠ft
SIunits
  • 101.6 mm
  • 10.16 cm

Thehandis a non-SIunit of measurementoflengthstandardized to 4 in (101.6 mm). It is used to measure the height ofhorsesin many English-speaking countries, includingAustralia,[1]Canada,Ireland,theUnited Kingdom,and theUnited States.[2]It was originally based on the breadth of ahumanhand. The adoption of theinternational inchin 1959 allowed for a standardizedimperial formand ametricconversion.[citation needed]It may be abbreviated to "h" or "hh".[3]Although measurements between whole hands are usually expressed in what appears to be decimal format, the subdivision of the hand is not decimal but is inbase 4,so subdivisions after theradix pointare in quarters of a hand, which are inches.[2]Thus, 62 inches is fifteen and a half hands, or 15.2 hh (normally said as "fifteen-two", or occasionally in full as "fifteen hands two inches" ).[2]

Terminology[edit]

"Hands" may be abbreviated to "h", or "hh". The "hh" form is sometimes interpreted as standing for "hands high".[4][5][6]When spoken aloud, hands are stated by numbers, 15.0 is "fifteen hands", 15.2 is alternately "fifteen-two" or "fifteen hands, two inches", and so on.[5][6][7]

To convert inches to hands, the number in inches is divided by four, then the remainder is added after theradix point.Thus, a horse that measures 60 inches is 15 hands high (15 × 4 = 60) and a horse halfway between 15 and 16 hands is 15.2 hands, or 62 inches tall (15 × 4 + 2 = 62)[5][7]Because the subdivision of a hand is a base 4 system, a horse 64 inches high is 16.0 hands high, not 15.4.[2]A designation of "15.5 hands" is not halfway between 15 and 16 hands, but rather reads 15 hands and five inches, an impossibility in a base 4 radix numbering system, where a hand is four inches.[8]

History[edit]

Ancient Egypt[edit]

Main article:Ancient Egyptian units of measurement
Detail of the cubit rod in theMuseo EgizioofTurin,showing digit, palm, hand and fist lengths

The hand, sometimes also called a handbreadth or handsbreadth, is ananthropic unit,originally based on the breadth of amalehumanhand, either with or without the thumb,[2]or on the height of a clenched fist.[9]

On survivingAncient Egyptiancubit-rods,theroyal cubitis divided into sevenpalmsof fourdigitsorfingerseach.[10]Five digits are equal to a hand, with thumb; and six to a closed fist.[11]The royal cubit measured approximately 525 mm,[12]so the width of the ancient Egyptian hand was about 94 mm.

Ancient Egyptian units of length[11]
Name Egyptian name Equivalent Egyptian values Metric equivalent Imperial equivalent
Royal cubit
M23t
n		D42
meh niswt		 7 palms or 28 digits 525 mm 20.67 in
Fist 6 digits 108 mm 4.25 in
Hand 5 digits 94 mm 3.70 in
Palm
D48
shesep		 4 digits 75 mm 2.95 in
Digit
D50
djeba		 1/4 palm 19 mm 0.75 in

Biblical use[edit]

In Biblicalexegesisthe hand measurement, as for example in the Vision of the Temple,Authorized VersionEzekiel 40:43,is usually taken to bepalmor handbreadth, and in modern translations may be rendered as "handbreadth"[13]or "three inches".[14]

United Kingdom[edit]

Main article:English units

The hand is a traditional unit in the UK.[2]It was standardised at four inches by a statute of KingHenry VIII,theHorses Act 1540(32 Hen. 8.c. 13),[15][16]but some confusion between the various types of hand measurement, and particularly between the hand and the handsbreadth, appears to have persisted. Phillips's dictionary of 1706 gives four inches for the length of the handful or hand, and three inches for the handsbreadth;[17]Mortimergives the same, three inches for the Hand's-breadth, and four for the "Handful, or simply, Hand",[16]but adds "The hand among horse-dealers, &c. is four-fingers' breadth, being the fist clenched, whereby the height of a horse is measured", thus equating "hand" with both the palm and the fist. Similarly, Wright's 1831 translation ofBuffonmentions "A hand breadth (palmus), the breadth of the four fingers of the hand, or three inches",[18]but theEncyclopædia Perthensisof 1816 gives under Palm (4): "A hand, or measure of lengths comprising three inches".[19]

Use in measuring horses[edit]

Chart illustrating the increase in height ofracehorses,from 14 hh (142 cm) in 1700 to 15.2+1⁄2hh (159 cm) in 1900.

Today the hand is used to measure the height ofhorses,[2]ponies,and otherequines.It is used in the US and also in some other nations that use the metric system, such asAustralia,New Zealand,Canada,Irelandand the UK. In other parts of the world, including continental Europe and inFEI-regulated international competition, horses are measured in metric units, usually metres or centimetres. InSouth Africa,measurements may be given in both hands and centimetres,[2]while in Australia, the equestrian regulations stipulate that both measurements are to be given.[20]

In those countries where hands are the usual unit for measuring horse height, inches rather than hands are commonly used in the measurement of smaller equines includingminiature horses/ponies,[21]miniaturemules,[22]donkeys,[23]andShetland ponies.[24]

A horse is measured from the ground to the top of the highest non-variable point of the skeleton, thewithers.[2]For official measurement, the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra may be identified by palpation, and marked if necessary.[25]Some varieties of Miniature horses are measured at the base of the last true hairs of themanerather than at the withers.[21]

For international competition regulated by theFédération Équestre Internationale(FEI) and forUSEFcompetition in the US, a horse can be measured withshoeson or off. In the United Kingdom, official measurement of horses is overseen by the Joint Measurement Board (JMB). For JMB purposes, the shoes must be removed and the hooves correctly prepared for shoeing prior to measurement.[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Equestrian Australia Measuring Rules Effective 1 July 2008"(PDF).equestrian.org.au/.Equestrian Australia Limited. 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 January 2013.Retrieved17 August2014.
  2. ^abcdefghi"The" Hand "Measurement for Horses".Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario, Canada. Archived fromthe originalon 22 August 2011.Retrieved30 June2011.
  3. ^Brander, Michael (1971).The Complete Guide to Horsemanship.London: A & C Black. p. 444.ISBN0-7136-1701-2.p.409
  4. ^"How big is a hand?"AllHorseBreeds.info.Archived2012-03-26 at theWayback Machine
  5. ^abcHand Conversion
  6. ^ab"How to Measure a Horse | Horse Height and Weight".Archived fromthe originalon 21 April 2021.Retrieved4 July2011.
  7. ^abShlei."Just how tall is a hand?".Measuring Equines.The American Donkey and Mule Society.Retrieved19 May2007.
  8. ^Measure Horse Height Accurately
  9. ^Good, J.M., O. Gregory, N. Bosworth (1813).Pantologia: A new cyclopaedia, comprehending a complete series of essays, treatises, and systems, Alpha betically arranged; with a general dictionary of arts, sciences and words, the whole presenting a distinct survey of human genius, learning and industry; illustrated with engravings, those on history being from original drawings by Edwards and others.London: Kearsley.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)"Hand (2)"
  10. ^Selin, Helaine,ed. (1997).Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine in non-Western Cultures.Dordrecht: Kluwer.ISBN978-0-7923-4066-9.
  11. ^abClagett, Marshall (1999).Ancient Egyptian Science, A Source Book. Volume 3: Ancient Egyptian Mathematics.Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society.ISBN978-0-87169-232-0.
  12. ^Lepsius, Richard (1865).Die altaegyptische Elle und ihre Eintheilung(in German). Berlin: Dümmler.
  13. ^Ezekiel 40:43New International Version
  14. ^Ezekiel 40:43New Century Version
  15. ^32 Hen. 8. c. 13:An Acte for Bryde of Horses.
  16. ^abMortimer, Thomas(1810).A general dictionary of commerce, trade, and manufactures: exhibiting their present state in every part of the world; and carefully comp. from the latest and best authorities.London: R. Phillips.
  17. ^Phillips, Edward, John Kersey (ed.) (1706)The new world of words: or, Universal English dictionary. Containing an account of the original or proper sense, and various significations of all hard words derived from other languages. Together with a brief and plain explication of all terms relating to any of the arts and sciences; to which is added, the interpretation of proper namesThe sixth edition, revised... With the addition of near twenty thousand words London
  18. ^Le Clerc, George Louis, Comte de Buffon (1831).A natural history of the globe: of man, of beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, insects and plants Volume 5.John Wright (trans.). Boston; Philadelphia: Gray and Bowen; Thomas Desilver, Jr.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^[n.a.] (1816).Encyclopædia Perthensis; or Universal Dictionary of the Arts, Sciences, Literature, etc., intended to supersede the use of other books of reference, Volume 16.
  20. ^"Equestrian Australia Measuring Rules Effective 1 July 2008"(PDF).equestrian.org.au/.Equestrian Australia Limited. 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 January 2013.Retrieved17 August2014.
  21. ^ab"Show Rules. Standards of Excellence: Miniature & Small Horse".Australian Miniature Horse & Pony Registry. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2019.Retrieved3 July2011.
  22. ^"About Miniature Mules".The American Miniature Mule Society. Archived fromthe originalon 24 June 2011.Retrieved3 July2011.
  23. ^"The Donkey".Government of Alberta: Agriculture and Rural Development. Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2012.Retrieved3 July2011.
  24. ^Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (1994).The Encyclopedia of the Horse(1st ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley.ISBN0-7513-0115-9.p.176
  25. ^ab"JMB measurement".The Joint Measurement Board. Archived fromthe originalon 26 March 2012.Retrieved30 June2011.

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