noun A man's armspan, generally reckoned to be six feet (about 1.8 metres). Later used to measure the depth of water, but now generally replaced by the metre outside American usage.
noun An internationally standardized version of this unit, the international fathom (= 1.8288 metres = 6 feet).
noun A measure of distance to shore: the nearest point to shore at which the water depth is the value quoted.
After we'd rowed for an hour, we found ourselves stranded ten fathoms from shore.
noun An unspecified depth. Depth of insight; mental reach or scope.
noun An unspecified depth.
noun Depth of insight; mental reach or scope.
noun The act of stretching out one's arms away from the sides of the torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to the body. Someone or something that is embraced. Control, grasp.
noun The act of stretching out one's arms away from the sides of the torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to the body.