And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. And sounded - Βολισαντες, Heaving the lead.
Twenty fathoms - Οργυιας εικοσι, About forty yards in depth. The οργυια is thus defined by the Etymologicon: Σημαινει την εκτασιν των χειρων, συν τῳ πλατει του Ϛηθους· It signifies the extent of the arms, together with the breadth of the breast. This is exactly the quantum of our fathom.