Fathom to Digit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert fathoms to digits with our free online length converter.
Fathom to Digit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Fathom).
- The converted value in Digit will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Fathom to Digit
Converting Fathom to Digit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Fathom = 96 digitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 fathoms: 10 × 96 = 960 digits
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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What is a Fathom and a Digit?
The Fathom (symbol fath) is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement, defined as exactly 6 feet (ft). This is equivalent to 2 yards or 1.8288 meters (m). It is almost exclusively used in maritime contexts for measuring the depth of water.
The Digit, also known as the finger or fingerbreadth, is an ancient, anthropomorphic unit of length, originally based on the breadth (width) of a human adult finger (typically the index finger). As a body-based unit, its value varied significantly depending on the person, time period, and culture.
Historically, it was often considered to be approximately 3/4 of an inch or about 1.9 centimeters (cm). In many systems, it formed a subdivision of larger units like the palm, span, or cubit. For example, it was common for:
- 4 digits = 1 palm
- 12 digits = 1 span (sometimes)
- 24 or 28 digits = 1 cubit (depending on the cubit definition)
Note: The Fathom is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Digit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Fathom and Digit
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word fæthm, meaning "a pair of outstretched arms" or "embrace". Historically, the length was derived from the distance between the fingertips of a man's outstretched arms, a practical method for sailors measuring the length of a sounding line (a rope with a weight used to measure water depth) as they hauled it in. This naturally variable measure was eventually standardized to precisely 6 feet. For centuries, it was the primary unit for depth soundings on nautical charts and in maritime operations in English-speaking countries and beyond. While its official use has declined with metrication, it remains a significant unit in nautical tradition.
The digit is one of the oldest known units of measurement, used by ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Greeks, Romans, and later across Europe. Its convenience stemmed from the ready availability of the human hand for estimation.
- Ancient Egypt: The digit (djeba) was a fundamental unit, with 28 digits forming the Royal Cubit.
- Ancient Rome: The Roman digit (digitus) was defined as 1/16 of a Roman foot, approximately 1.85 cm. Four digiti made a palmus (palm).
- Medieval England: The digit was often reckoned as 3/4 of an inch, derived from the barleycorn (3 barleycorns = 1 inch, 4 digits = 3 inches).
Due to its inherent variability and the rise of more standardized systems based on physical prototypes (like the yard or meter), the digit gradually fell out of practical use for trade and science, becoming largely obsolete by the early modern period.
Common Uses for fathoms and digits
Explore the typical applications for both Fathom (imperial/US) and Digit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for fathoms
The fathom's use is strongly tied to the sea:
- Hydrography & Navigation: Measuring water depth (soundings) on nautical charts. Many charts, particularly older ones or those used in the US and UK, still use fathoms. Contour lines showing seabed depth are often called "fathom lines".
- Nautical Terminology: Used historically to measure the length of ropes and anchor cables (e.g., a "cable length" was often defined as 100 or 120 fathoms).
- Commercial Fishing: Sometimes used by fishermen to describe the length of nets or fishing lines, or the depth at which they are fishing.
- Literature & Figurative Language: Frequently appears in maritime literature (e.g., "full fathom five" from Shakespeare's The Tempest). Metaphorically, "to fathom" means to comprehend or get to the bottom of something complex.
- Historical Land Measurement: Very occasionally used in historical land surveying or mining contexts, but this was rare compared to its maritime use.
Common Uses for digits
The digit is now obsolete for practical measurement but is encountered in:
- Historical Texts: Found in ancient and medieval documents describing dimensions of objects, buildings, or anatomical measurements.
- Archaeology & Anthropology: Used when interpreting historical measurements or comparing ancient systems.
- Figurative Language: Occasionally used informally to mean a very small distance ("just a digit more").
- Understanding Historical Units: Key to understanding the structure of ancient measurement systems (e.g., relationship to palm, cubit).
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Fathom (fath)
How many feet are in a fathom?
There are exactly 6 feet (ft) in 1 fathom.
How many meters are in a fathom?
One fathom is equal to exactly 1.8288 meters (m).
Is the fathom an SI unit?
No, the fathom is not an SI unit. It is part of the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the fathom still commonly used today?
Its usage has decreased significantly due to the widespread adoption of the metric system in international shipping and hydrography. However, it remains common on nautical charts produced by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, and it persists in recreational boating, commercial fishing communities, maritime tradition, and literature. Modern international charts increasingly use meters for depth soundings.
Where does the word 'fathom' come from?
The word originates from the Old English fæthm, which referred to the span of a person's outstretched arms. This distance was the practical basis for the original measurement used by sailors.
About Digit (digit)
How long is a digit?
There is no single, precise value for the digit because it was based on human anatomy and varied by system. Common historical approximations include:
- Approximately 0.75 inches (in)
- Approximately 1.85 to 1.9 centimeters (cm)
- Often defined as 1/4 of a palm or 1/16 of a foot within specific historical systems.
What is the relation between a digit and a palm?
In many historical systems (like the Roman and often the English), 4 digits were considered equal to 1 palm (the width of the hand across the base of the fingers).
What is the relation between a digit and a cubit?
The relationship varied. For example:
- The Egyptian Royal Cubit contained 28 digits.
- The common Greek and Roman cubits often contained 24 digits.
Is the digit an SI unit?
No, the digit is not an SI unit. It is an ancient, non-standardized, anthropomorphic unit. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the digit still used today?
No, the digit is not used for any standard or practical measurements today. Its use is confined to historical study, interpretation of old texts, and occasional figurative speech.
Where does the name 'digit' come from?
The name comes from the Latin word digitus, which means "finger" or "toe". This reflects the unit's origin based on the width of a human finger.
Conversion Table: Fathom to Digit
| Fathom (fath) | Digit (digit) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 96 |
| 5 | 480 |
| 10 | 960 |
| 25 | 2,400 |
| 50 | 4,800 |
| 100 | 9,600 |
| 500 | 48,000 |
| 1,000 | 96,000 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)