A measure of distance, the name of which is an abbreviation of the Latin mille passuum or "one thousand paces." Since the paces (one step with each foot) of the Roman army were supposed to be two steps, each 2.5 feet long, one thousand paces is very close to the length now called a statute mile – 5,280 feet. A nautical mile was developed to be a distance equal to one minute of arc (1/60 of a degree) distance along a great circle and is equal to 6,076 feet. 1 mile = 1.609 km.
Related category UNITS
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