Convert Fingerbreadth (fingerbreadth) to Russian Archin (archin) instantly.
About these units
Fingerbreadth (fingerbreadth)
The fingerbreadth, approximately 1.9–2 cm, is the width of an average adult finger and represents one of the smallest practical body-based units. It was historically used for fine measurement in weaving, tailoring, and small-scale construction, complementing units like cubits and handbreadths. Its human-scale precision made it intuitive, particularly in societies without standardized rulers or measuring rods. Fingerbreadths continue to be referenced in scholarly studies of ancient measurements, providing insight into the practical and anthropometric foundations of early systems.
Russian Archin (archin)
The archin was a Russian unit of length equal to approximately 71.1 cm. Like many traditional European units, it was based on body proportions and was widely used in textile trade, tailoring, land measurement, and carpentry. Before Russia adopted the metric system in the early 20th century, the archin formed part of a larger system of customary units such as the sazhen and vershok. Merchants relied heavily on the archin when measuring cloth and other traded goods, making it central to the economic life of Imperial Russia. Today, the archin appears in historical documents, literature, and museum records. Understanding the archin is essential for historians studying Russian industrialization, daily commerce, and rural life before modernization efforts transformed the measurement landscape.