handstep

A handstep is a unit of measurement traditionally used in some parts of the world, particularly in historical contexts and in certain rural or informal settings. It refers to the length of a person's hand, typically from the tip of the middle finger to the base of the palm or wrist. The exact conversion of a handstep to a more standardized unit like inches or centimeters can vary significantly depending on the individual and the specific region where it is used. It is not a precise or universally accepted measurement and is generally considered an informal or colloquial term.

Historically, handsteps, along with other body-based measurements like the foot or the cubit, were common before the widespread adoption of standardized units of length. The practicality of using readily available body parts for estimation made these units useful for everyday tasks such as measuring cloth, wood, or land. However, the inherent variability in human hand sizes made such measurements unreliable for scientific or large-scale construction purposes. Today, while the term might still be encountered in anecdotal accounts or within specific cultural traditions, it has largely been superseded by standardized metric or imperial units.