Span

span, n. the space from the end of the thumb to the end of the little-finger when the fingers are extended: nine inches: the spread of an arch between its abutments: a space of time, the full duration of anything: extent of stretch, as the spread of a man's arms, in measuring trees, .— v.t. to measure by spans: to measure: to embrace:— pr.p. span′ning; pa.t. and pa.p. spanned.— ns. Span′-coun′ter , Span′-far′thing , a game played by one throwing a coin or counter on the ground, and another trying to throw his so near it that he can span the distance between the two.— adjs. Span′le , that cannot be spanned or measured; Span′-long , of the length of a span.— n. Span′ner , one who spans: an iron tool or lever used to tighten the nuts of screws. [A.S. span — spannan ; Ger. spanne — spannen .]