sandamak
sandamák with stress marks
width of an open palm
Usage Note
Sandamak is a traditional Tagalog body-based unit of measurement equal to the span of an open hand from thumb to little finger — similar to the English 'span.' It is used in informal measuring, especially in crafts, carpentry, and folk medicine, and represents an older system of measurement tied to the human body.
Examples
" Isang sandamak ang lapad nito. "
Natural Translation
Its width is one palm-span.
Literal Translation
One palm-span the width its.
" Ang haba ng kahoy ay isang sandamak. "
Natural Translation
The length of the wood is one open palm width.
Literal Translation
The length of wood is one open-palm-width.
" Noong unang panahon, sinusukat ng mga karpintero ang kahoy sa pamamagitan ng sandamak bago pa naimbento ang ruler. "
Natural Translation
In the old days, carpenters measured wood using the palm-span before the ruler was even invented.
Literal Translation
In old time, measured by carpenters the wood through of palm-span before yet invented the ruler.
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