Fathom to Foot Converter

A fathom is a unit of length primarily used for measuring the depth of water, equal to 6 feet or approximately 1.83 meters. It represents the span of a person's outstretched arms.

The fathom derives from the Old English 'fæthm' meaning 'outstretched arms' or 'embrace'. It was originally based on the distance between the fingertips of a person's outstretched arms, typically about 6 feet. It has been used for measuring water depth since ancient times.

Fathoms are still used in some maritime contexts for measuring water depth, particularly in traditional sailing and fishing communities. However, meters are increasingly preferred for official nautical charts and modern navigation systems.

A foot is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems equal to 12 inches or approximately 0.305 meters. It is one of the most commonly used units in these systems.

The foot has ancient origins, originally based on the length of a human foot. Various civilizations used foot-based measurements, but the modern foot was standardized in England. The international foot was defined as exactly 0.3048 meters in 1959.

Feet are extensively used in the United States for measuring height of people and buildings, room dimensions, altitude in aviation, and in construction. They're standard for architectural drawings, real estate listings, and everyday measurements in countries using imperial units.