furlong
noun
Did you know?
Furlong Has Old English Roots
Furlong is an English original and can be traced back to Old English furlang, a combination of the noun furh ("furrow") and the adjective lang ("long"). Though now standardized as a length of 220 yards (or 1/8th of a mile), the furlong was originally defined less precisely as the length of a furrow in a cultivated field. This length was equal to the long side of an acre—an area originally defined as the amount of arable land that could be plowed by a yoke of oxen in a day, but later standardized as an area measuring 220 yards (one furlong) by 22 yards, and now defined as any area measuring 4,840 square yards. In contemporary usage, furlong is often encountered in references to horse racing.
Example Sentences
Jeff Nahill, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2022 Forbidden Kingdom won the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 29. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2022 The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 1 is $1.25 million, same pot as on April 2 this year, when Cyberknife, trained by Brad Cox, won the nine-furlong race for 3-year-olds. Arkansas Online, 29 July 2022 The six-furlong sprint has drawn 10 entries, with Shaaz the tepid morning-line favorite at 7-2. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2022 Even fans who wouldn’t know a furlong from a fetlock, understand that Derby Day requires the widest brims, the boldest colors and the most outrageous equestrian clichés. Michael Solomon, Forbes, 7 May 2022 Tina was a furlong out of bounds to send you the information without first discussing it with you. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 9 July 2022 If Rich Strike can catch him in the final furlong, maybe one of these other horses can as well. Jason Frakes, USA TODAY, 19 May 2022 Early speed and a super recent 5 furlong workout at Belmont has this son of the great Gun Runner getting early support to win. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 16 May 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Old English furlang, from furh furrow + lang long
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
furlong
noun