fathom (old edd. fadom, the orig. meaning is ‘the embracing arms’, hence ‘stretching the arms in a straight line’ (of which 1 is a fig. use), hence ‘measure of 6 feet’)
1.
fig.
grasp of intellect
Oth. I. i. 153
“Another of his ”
2.
pl. depths Wint. IV. iii. [iv.] 501
“all . . . the profound
sea hides In unknown fathoms.”
