Arshin is a measure of length used in Russia in the old days. An object for measuring length was also called an arshine. With this word, there are many stable expressions and sayings that have developed among the people.
In order to understand them, and also to imagine what dimensions are discussed in historical sources and literature, it is better to understand this issue in detail, consider it from the standpoint of the system of measures adopted in the modern world.
Which is longer - arshin or meter?
Arshin is shorter than a meter. To be exact, then 28 centimeters and 8.8 millimeters. Although often the value of this unit of measure is rounded to hundredths of a meter. Accordingly, an arshin in cm is equal to 71, 12 or 71 centimeters.
To calculate the length of the old unit in millimeters, you have to remember that there are 10 of them in one centimeter. So, one arshin will be equal to 711.2 millimeters.
Since 100 centimeters is one meter, then calculate the ratio of the old measure and the main one in the modern metricthe system will not be difficult: in meters, arshin will be equal to 0.7112 of this unit of length (or 0.71).
In terms of kilometers, arshins will be 0.0007112.
How the arshin was measured in Russia
It is believed that the arshin did not have a constant size and was a relative measure, like most accounting units of that time. And, like many of them, it was based on the size of a certain part of the human body. It was originally the full length of an average adult's arm.
It even owes its origin to this method of measurement, most often used in the trade in fabrics, which were measured based on the length of the merchant's arm. The price was indicated for one such segment and the calculation took place accordingly.
When it came to measuring the earth or something located on it, the step of an average adult was taken as an arshin. And the length of the step, not the widest, but not the smallest, is just approximately equal to the length of the arm of the same person. As a result, the length of the arshin remained approximately the same, equal to 0.7112 modern meters.
Who borrowed the name from whom
Arshin is a word known not only to Russian-speaking people. There are very consonant terms of similar meaning in the languages of ancient cultures belonging to Turkey and Iran.
In Turkish it is "arshim", and in Persia (modern Iran) it is "arshi". The length of these units of measurement was 70.9 modern centimeters. Not absolutely exact repetitionthe term known in Russia can be explained by the general difference in pronunciation in different language groups, and the purpose and almost equal size indicate the undoubted commonality of these concepts.
Units of measurement similar in essence and name were used so long ago that now it is very difficult to make out who borrowed the name of the term from whom.
It is believed that the word "arshin" is based on the Slavic root "ar" - denoting the earth, its surface.
Still, the most plausible and basic version is considered to be the borrowing of the word. Most likely, arshin is a word of the language of the Turkic group, which came to us from across the sea, derived from the Persian "arsh" or "arash", which means "elbow". Perhaps it was the eastern fabric merchants who enriched the Russian language with this term in the process of communicating at the auction.
Arshin and English measurement system
Arshin can also be compared with units of the measurement system called imperial or English.
Arshin is 28 inches. For a modern person living in a country with a metric system, inches are easiest to represent in the diagonal of a TV or computer screen. For example, a common TV model with a diagonal of 40 will be equal to a little more than one and a half arshins.
Arshin will also be equal to 2.33 feet, 0.78 yards and 0.00044 miles.
Arshin and other old Russian measures of length
Arshin - not the smallest and not the largest of the old measures of length in Russia. And, of course, you can express itthrough the ratio with other units.
One arshin is the same as four spans (otherwise four quarters) or 16 inches.
One span was equal to 17.78 modern centimeters.
One vershok was equal to 4.45 centimeters.
Three arshins made up one ordinary measured, otherwise - state, sazhen (such a measure equals 2 modern meters and 13 centimeters).
There were many types of fathoms in Russia. In modern speech, only the expression "oblique sazhen" has remained relatively relevant - the largest of the identical measures meant the distance from the toe of the right leg, turned with the foot to the side, to the fingertips of the left hand, raised diagonally upwards, and is considered equal to 2.48 known to us meters.
Now the phrase "oblique fathom in the shoulders" is used only in a figurative sense, denoting, as before, a large, tall person.
If we consider the arshin of relatively large old Russian measures of length, then it will be 0.00067 of the usual verst.
What else was called arshin
Arshine was also called the object that was equal to this unit of length and was used in the measurement process.
For some time, improvised means were used for this purpose - ribbon, braid, rod.
However, most often, when talking about an object, it means that an arshin is a straight stick, a plank, a kind of old ruler, on which divisions multiple of vershoks could also be applied. Could it be wooden, folding, later -iron.
In order to combat the arbitrariness of merchants, caused by the lack of common measurement standards, the so-called "state arshins" were issued by royal decree - a tool, a model that became the same for everyone and ensured fair transactions. It could be bought. Trade without official arshin became illegal.
Sayings with the word "arshin"
Some stable folk expressions are still so popular, everyone has probably heard them:
As if swallowed a arshin.
This is what they say about a person who is unnaturally upright.
Measure with a common yardstick.
Judge everyone the same, treat someone or something as normal, one of a lot of things like that.
He sees three arshins into the ground.
Used for someone who is very perceptive and difficult to hide from.
An arshin beard, but a mind span.
Talking about someone who is older but not too smart, who hasn't benefited from the experience.
Write about other people's sins in yards, and write about your own in lowercase letters.
Similar in meaning to the proverb:
He sees a straw in someone else's eye, but does not notice a log in his own.
Indicates being too picky about others and ignoring your own, even greater (often similar) shortcomings.
A arshin for a caftan, and two for patches.
Meaning either something stupidly done, or not worth the cost, although initiallyseemingly profitable.
Seven arshins of beef and three pounds of ribbons.
Talking about nonsense, nonsense.
Measure by your arshin.
Judge something biased, based on personal interests, on your own.
Write in yard letters.
So very large.
Arshin will not lie, the measure is faith.
Related expression:
Trust but verify.
On the need for accurate calculations and verification in business dealings.
The word "arshin" in literature
Even without delving into literary sources and not taking into account serious large-scale works, one can come across the word "arshin".
The most famous and familiar of them, probably, can be considered the lines of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin from "The Tale of Tsar S altan", telling about the ruler's heir, newborn son, Tsarevich Guidon:
God gave them a son in arshin.
The next work known even to children is "The Little Humpbacked Horse" by Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov. One of the main characters, after whom the work is named, is described by the author as follows:
…Only three inches tall, On the back with two humps, Yes, with yard-long ears.
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev's poem lines familiar to schoolchildren:
Russia cannot be understood with the mind, One yardstick cannot be measured.
Arshin is also mentioned in the work of Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov "Grandfather Mazai and Hares":
With every minute the water was picked up
To the poor animals; left under them
Less than a yard wide, Less than a fathom in length.
What, samovar makers, yardsticks, complain?
This measure of length is used both in the poem "Eugene Onegin" by A. S. Pushkin, and in the novel "War and Peace" by L. N. Tolstoy. Wherever there is a description of events and objects with the mention of this word, those who are familiar with this unit of measurement will no longer have a question about what an arshin is and what is longer - an arshin or a meter? And the imagination can easily draw a vivid and reliable picture of what is happening.
