The length of a person's outstretched arms, measured from the fingertips of the two middle fingers. See also fathom

plural of span roof

plural of span block

plural of span shackle

plural of span iron

Alternative form of spic and span

(nautical) Any of the blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards.

(nautical) A special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat.

An old English children's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters.

(nautical) A large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit.