Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A unit for measuring distance, equal to 1/8 mile (201 meters).
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A measure of length equal to the eighth part of a mile, 40 rods, poles, or perches, 220 yards, or 201.17 meters.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A measure of length; the eighth part of a mile; forty rods; two hundred and twenty yards.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
unit oflength equal to 220yards or exactly 201.168meters , now only used in measuring distances in horse-racing.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a unit of length equal to 220 yards
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The length of the acre, forty rods, has given rise to one of the familiar units of length, the furlong, that is, a "furrow-long," or the length of a furrow.
An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England Edward Potts Cheyney 1904
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It may be that the position of her uncle's house (which was her home) at the corner of West Street nearest the barracks, the daily passing of the troops, the constant blowing of trumpet-calls a furlong from her windows, coupled with the fact that she knew nothing of the inner realities of military life, and hence idealized it, had also helped her mind's original bias for thinking men-at-arms the only ones worthy of a woman's heart.
A Changed Man; and other tales Thomas Hardy 1884
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Most importantly, in the very near future, you'll be watching races from Del Mar and Turfway Park and throwing around words like "furlong" and betting trifectas and superfectas.
Hennegan Brothers: Tribeca Filmmakers: How To Be A Kentucky Derby Know-It-All 2008
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a pound than to make the kingdom larger by calling a furlong a mile.
The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 4 Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay 1829
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The Larry Jones-trained son of A.P. Indy had a spectacular five-furlong workout (58.40) over the Pimlico track on Tuesday and appears to have come out of the Derby in good shape.
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There is a 6 furlong sprint on the undercard that the first quarter will be blazed in less than 22 seconds.
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Is Miracle Day finally coming into its own as it approaches its final furlong?
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Rheingold was narrowly beaten in the Derby by Roberto, given an especially forceful ride by Lester Piggott, while Hawaiian Sound might have held off Shirley Heights in 1978 if he had not drifted away from the rail in the final furlong.
Barry Hills to retire as trainer and hand licence to son Charlie 2011
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Super Saver had a quiet Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, walking around the barn after turning in a strong three-furlong workout Monday in 36.60 seconds.
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Out back, horses might be working out in their pool, or on a nine-furlong track.
oroboros commented on the word furlong
A measure of distance, a furrow long, the distance eight oxen in a plow-team can work without rest; also, one side of a 10-acre square.
January 11, 2007