Menu

Furlong for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'fɜrlɔŋ

What does Furlong really mean?

61 1
61
Hey there! Let's dive into the marvelous world of the word "furlong." Don't worry if you've never heard of it before; we're going to explore it together, step by step, and make sure you understand it like a pro!

So, a furlong is a way to measure distance. Imagine you're standing on a beautiful countryside road, surrounded by lush green fields and cheerful flowers. You're about to start a race, and you're wondering just how long this track is going to be. Well, my dear student, a furlong is here to save the day!

A furlong is an old-fashioned way to measure distance, especially used in horse racing. It's like a little game we can play to figure out how far we can go. Picture yourself holding a rope, and let's stretch it out together. A furlong is equal to 220 yards, which is about 201.168 meters. Wow, that's quite a long way!

Now, let me tell you a little secret. Do you know where the word "furlong" comes from? It actually goes back to the olden days of England. Back then, farmers needed a way to measure their land and figure out how much they could grow. They came up with a clever idea of using the length of a furrow, a long trench made by a plow, as a unit of measurement. They called it a "furrow long," which eventually turned into "furlong." Isn't that fascinating?

But wait, my curious student, there's more! The term "furlong" can also be used in a metaphorical sense. Just like in our imaginary race, "furlong" can describe a certain stretch or section of a journey or process. Let's say you're writing a story. Each chapter of your tale could be seen as a furlong, a mini adventure within the grand adventure of the whole book. It's like taking small steps towards reaching your goal.

So, in a nutshell, "furlong" is a special word that tells us a specific distance, equal to 220 yards or about 201.168 meters. It's a neat measurement that was invented by clever farmers in old England, using the length of a furrow. And hey, it can also be used to describe a smaller part of a larger journey or process. Cool, right?

I hope this explanation has cleared things up for you, dear student. Remember, if there's something you don't understand or want to explore further, don't hesitate to ask. Learning is an adventure, and I'm here to be your guide!

Revised and Fact checked by Stephanie Wilson on 2023-10-28 12:48:02

Furlong In a sentece

Learn how to use Furlong inside a sentece

  • In a horse race, a furlong is the distance a horse runs from the starting point to the finish line.
  • When measuring the length of a field, one furlong is equal to 220 yards or 201 meters.
  • If you walk for about 10 minutes at a normal speed, you would have covered a furlong of distance.
  • At the Olympic Games, a running track is usually 400 meters long which is equal to about 2 furlongs.
  • In the old days, people used to measure distance between towns in furlongs. For example, a journey from one town to another might be 5 furlongs.

Furlong Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Furlong Holonyms

The larger whole to which this word belongs.

Furlong Meronyms

Words that are part of the original word.