inch
English
/ɪntʃ/
noun
Definitions
- A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimetres.
- (meteorology) The amount of water which would cover a surface to the depth of an inch, used as a measurement of rainfall.
- The amount of an alcoholic beverage which would fill a glass or bottle to the depth of an inch.
- (figuratively) A very short distance.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English ynche inherited from Old English ynce borrowed from Latin uncia (twelfth part, ounce, one-twelfth part, 1 12 part, inch, a twelth, a twelfth part).
Origin
Latin
uncia
Gloss
twelfth part, ounce, one-twelfth part, 1 12 part, inch, a twelth, a twelfth part
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- incher English
- inchful English
- inchlong English
- inchmeal English
- inchwide English
- inchworm English
- long English
- microinch English
- ounce English
- unce English
- uncial English
- wide English
- worm English
- deunx Latin
- quincunx Latin
- septunx Latin
- sescuncia Latin
- teruncius Latin
- uncia Latin
- oncia Italian
- once French
- ouguiya French
- onza Spanish, Castilian
- οὐγγία Ancient Greek
- インチ Japanese
- ynce Old English
- ynċe Old English
- ynche Middle English
- أونصة Arabic
- once Old French
- únsa Icelandic
- इंच Hindi
- inci Indonesian
- ungae Old Irish
- onche Norman
- once Middle French
- 𐌿𐌽𐌺𐌾𐌰 Gothic
- ইঞ্চি Assamese
- inchi Swahili
- 인치 Korean
- iyintshi Zulu
- once Friulian