span

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The full length of time that something lasts or covers.

   The job was finished in the span of an hour.

2. 2
   verb

   To stretch or reach across a space or period of time.

   The new bridge spans the entire river.

3. 3
   noun

   The distance between the two supports of a bridge, arch, or beam.

   The explosion destroyed one span of the bridge.

From Middle English spanne, from Old English spann, from Proto-Germanic *spannō (“span, handbreadth”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to stretch”). Cognate with Dutch span, spanne, German Spanne. The sense “pair of horses” is probably from Old English ġespan, ġespann (“a joining; a fastening together; clasp; yoke”), from Proto-West Germanic [Term?]. Cognate with Dutch gespan, German Gespann.

Topics