shaftmentEtymologyFrom Middle English schaftmonde, from Old English sċeaftmund (“a palm, a palm's length”), equivalent to shaft + mound (“hand”).nounAn obsolete unit of length defined as 6 inches, which equals 2 palms or ²⁄₃ span; today 6 inches equals exactly 15.24 cm. (Before the 12th century, a shaftment was defined as 6+¹⁄₂ inches.)Traditionally the width of the fist and outstretched thumb.“A shaftment is the width of the palm and the outstretched thumb.”