d�finition of the mile

[eric31]

what is the origin and the exact lenght of the earth mile ( not nautical mile )

Thanks

[Loosehead]

The mile was originally supposed to be 1000 paces of a roman soldier doubling. Mile drives from Milli ie 1000.

[naz_nomad]

A unit of distance called a mile was first used by the Romans and originally denoted a distance of 1,000 (double) steps (mille passuum in Latin), which amounted, at approximately 29 inches (0.74 m) per (single) step, to 1,618 yards (1,480 m), or 5,000 Roman feet, per mile.


the statute mile is measured at 1,760 yards

[bernardo]

originally: 1 mile = mille passuum = 1000 paces (one pace being a step from one foot to the other and back to the first foot)

now: the mile is officially defined scientifically as 1609.344 metres exactly, with the metre being defined exactly according to the wavelength of something-or-other.

[heathfield]

As Naz states, the mile used to be 1618 yards. An awkward figure, since it couldn't be divided easily by the English measures of rod, pole, etc, without leaving fractions. So it was changed to the present 1760 yards by Royal Statute under Queen Elizabeth 1st, hence the term 'Statute Mile'.
Curiously, The length of the perimeter of the Great Pyramid in Egypt is 1761 Royal Cubits. Is this too close a figure to be a coincidence? Are historians missing something?