σπῐθᾰμ-ή, ἡ,
space one can embrace between the thumb and little finger, span (EM 647.34), as a fixed measure, = 3 παλαισταί [[(2nd-1st c.BC(?): Hero Mechanicus “*Deff.” 131), first in 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.106, 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “Mochl.” 38 (though the _compound_ τρισπίθαμος occurs in 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Opera et Dies” 426); also in 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus Alcaeus1.126d, 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Historia Animalium” 606a14, “Pol.” 1302b38, 3rd c.BC: Chrysippus Stoicus 2.47, “POxy.” 669.32 (3rd c.AD)] Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.:metaphorically, σ. τοῦ βίου [[ 4th-5th c.AD: Diogenianus Paroemiographus 8.17. ] Refs 4th c.AD+]