Convert Furlong (fur) to Nail (Cloth) (nail) instantly.
About these units
Furlong (fur)
A furlong, equal to 10 chains or 660 feet, originated as the distance a team of oxen could plow before needing rest. Its name derives from "furrow-long," indicating the length of a typical plowed furrow in medieval agriculture. This agricultural basis linked the furlong to the acre: a rectangle one furlong long and one chain wide equaled one acre in area. Today, the furlong is most notably used in horse racing, where race distances are often measured in furlongs rather than miles. This tradition reflects both the unit's historical importance and its suitability for describing moderate distances. While archaic in most contexts, the furlong remains a culturally iconic measure that connects modern sports to medieval agricultural practices.
Nail (Cloth) (nail)
The nail is another small unit in cloth measurement, roughly 2.1 cm (0.83 inches), sometimes used interchangeably with the finger in English tailoring. The nail allowed fine precision in textile cutting, marking, and assembly. Its practical relevance lay in breaking down larger units like the yard or ell into smaller, manageable increments suitable for artisans. Though obsolete in modern industry, the nail continues to appear in historical accounts, tailoring manuals, and legal documents concerning cloth trade in England.