σπιθαμή

A. space one can embrace between the thumb and little finger, span (EM 647.34), as a fixed measure, = 3 παλαισταί (Hero *Deff. 131), first in Hdt. 2.106, Hp. Mochl. 38 (though the compd. τρισπίθαμος occurs in Hes. Op. 426); also in Pl. Alc. 1.126d, Arist. HA 606a14, Pol. 1302b38, Chrysipp.Stoic. 2.47, POxy. 669.32 (iii A.D.), etc. :metaph., ς. τοῦ βίου Diogenian. 8.17.