a1450 ( tr. Vegetius (Douce) f. 17 (MED) Þey moste ben tauȝt to caste & þrowe wiþ hand schaftes [v.r. hand staues; L. hastilia] of double weyȝte þat here verray spere schaftes schul ben aftirwarde.
1598 J. Florio Sommessa, the length of a span or hand-breadth, a hand shaft so called of our drapers.