Dictionary

dira en · NOUN

Etymology

From Arabic ذِرَاع m (ḏirāʕ, “cubit”), from ذِرَاع f (ḏirāʕ, “arm”).

Meanings

1. The Arabian cubit, whose value varied by place, time, and item from about 25–75 cm (10 in–2 ft 5½ in).
   • 13·3—This measure does not seem to belong to very early times, and it may probably have originated in Asia Minor... And it may well be the origin of the dirá‘ Stambuli of 26·6, twice 13·3. 1888, W.M.F. Petrie, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. XXIV, "Weights and Measures", p. 490

Forms