I have looked up the definition in my Baileys
Dictionary (published 1744), and that defines a
hand-breadth as 'a measure of 3 inches'. More
recently, and less helpfully, Chambers defines it as
the 'breadth of a hand'.
In fact, I have always read it in a similar way to a
'hairs-breadth' - a colloqialism for a very small
difference that is not really significant.
Good luck with the translation.
With best regards
David Page
Harrow, UK
--- Max Rives <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I am
attempting to translate into French what can be
> translated from "Proofs of the Holy Writ" that John
> Radcliffe put on the RK site recently.
>
> I am , as Miles Smith "at a stand" over (at least)
> one word : "hand's breadth".
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com
|