Cu"bit (k?"b?t), n. [L. cubitum, cubitus; elbow, ell, cubit, fr. (because the elbow serves fo aning upon) cubare to lie down, recline; cf. Gr. elbow, to bend, stoop, bent, stooping, humbacked. Cf. Incumbent, Covey.] 1. Anat. The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow to wrist. [Obs.]
2. A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger.
The cubit varies in length in different countries, the Roman cubit being 17,47 inches, the Greek 18,20, the Hebrew somewhat longer, and the English 18 inches.
© Webster 1913. | 
