Convert Long Reed (long reed) to Furlong (fur) instantly.
About these units
Long Reed (long reed)
The long reed is a traditional unit of length used in Egypt and other ancient cultures, roughly equivalent to 2 cubits. It was employed in surveying, architecture, and the measurement of agricultural fields. The unit's length made it suitable for laying out longer distances with relatively few measurements, especially in river valley contexts where precision at large scales was important for irrigation and crop management. Historical records show the long reed in use for temple construction, pyramidal measurements, and land division, illustrating the practical integration of human-based units into early engineering practices.
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.