Definition

Noun: A unit of length used in nautical contexts, specifically equal to 15 feet.

Usage

This term is a specific measurement used in maritime settings, particularly in historical or technical contexts related to depth sounding or cable measurement. It is a compound noun where "nautical" specifies the domain of use, and "chain" denotes a unit of length.

Examples

• The depth at that point was recorded as two nautical chains.
• The old chart indicated the wreck lay approximately five nautical chains from the shore.

Advanced Usage

• While largely historical, the term may appear in technical manuals, historical maritime documents, or in the context of traditional seamanship.
• It is distinct from the more common land-based "chain" unit of 66 feet used in surveying.

Variants and Related Words

• Cable length: A related but different nautical unit of distance, typically 600 feet (or 1/10 of a nautical mile in some systems).
• Fathom: A more common nautical unit of depth equal to 6 feet.

Synonyms

• Marine chain (context-specific)
• 15-foot unit (descriptive)

Notes

The "nautical chain" is a precise technical term. In modern practice, depths and distances are almost universally given in meters, feet, or nautical miles, making this term archaic.

Noun

1. a nautical unit of length (15 ft)