Triumphant Londoner, Sally Reeve wrote to us with this observation - the latest in the Home Tuths quest for Odd Units of Measurement...

"On hearing the definition of the *cubit, it reminded me of an interesting fact: did you know that the length of the part of your arm from the crook of your elbow to your wrist is exactly the same as the length of your foot from your heel to the end of your big toe.

You don't believe me, do you? You're looking at your arm, thinking 'My foot is nowhere near that big!' I challenge you to check. Go on! Take off your shoes and socks and measure your foot against your arm. See!"

*Cubit - derived from the Latin, 'cubitus' meaning 'the lower arm'. The exact length of this measure is still a subject for discussion, but it is generally thought to mean the length of the fore-arm from elbow to the tip of the longest finger.