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While a '''fathom''' is a unit of length in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_unit Imperial system] (and the derived U.S. customary units), used especially for measuring the depth of [[water]], increasingly, the word fathom is found increasingly in metaphorical usage. An example is [[http://www.columbia.edu Columbia University]'s aborted launch of [http://www.fathom.com Fathom.com} (logo at right) one the first serious efforts to harness the web for [[education]]al [[purpose]]s.

While a '''fathom''' is a unit of length in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_unit Imperial system] (and the derived U.S. customary units), used especially for measuring the depth of [[water]], increasingly, the word fathom is found increasingly in metaphorical usage. An example is [http://www.columbia.edu Columbia University]'s aborted launch of [http://www.fathom.com Fathom.com] (logo at right) one the first serious efforts to harness the web for [[education]]al [[purpose]]s.

There are 2 yards (6 feet) in a fathom.[1] Based on the distance between the fingertips of a man's outstretched arms, its size varied slightly depending on whether it was defined as a thousandth of an (Admiralty) nautical mile or as a multiple of the imperial yard. Formerly, the term was used for any of several units of length varying around 5 and 5½ feet.

There are 2 yards (6 feet) in a fathom.[1] Based on the distance between the fingertips of a man's outstretched arms, its size varied slightly depending on whether it was defined as a thousandth of an (Admiralty) nautical mile or as a multiple of the imperial yard. Formerly, the term was used for any of several units of length varying around 5 and 5½ feet.