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Origin and history of span

span(n.1)

[distance between two objects] Middle English spanne, a unit of length, from Old English span "distance between the thumb and the middle or little finger of an extended hand" (as a measure of length, roughly nine inches), probably related to Middle Dutch spannen "to join, fasten," from Proto-Germanic *spannan, from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin."

The Germanic word was borrowed into Medieval Latin as spannus, hence Italian spanna, Old French espan "hand's width, span as a unit of measure" (Modern French empan), which might have influenced the Middle English word.

As a measure of volume (early 14c.), "what can be held in two cupped hands." The figurative meaning "any short space," especially "period between two points of time" is by 1590s. The sense of "full extent or course over which anything is stretched or prolonged" is by 1630s. The sense of "space between abutments of an arch, etc." is from 1725, variously defined as including the abutments or not. The meaning "maximum lateral dimension of an aircraft" is recorded by 1909.

span(n.2)

"two animals driven together," 1769, American English, from Dutch span, used in this sense, from spannen "to stretch or yoke," from Middle Dutch spannan, cognate with Old English spannan "to join," from Proto-Germanic *spannan, from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin," thus a cognate of the verb and span (n.1). Also used in South African English. As a verb, "be matched for funning in harness," 1540s.

also from 1769

span(v.)

Middle English spannen, from Old English spannan "join, link, clasp, fasten, bind, connect; to stretch, spread out" (past tense speonn), from the noun or else from Proto-Germanic *spannan (source also of Old Norse spenna, Old Frisian spanna, Middle Dutch spannen, Dutch spannan "stretch, bend, hoist, hitch," Old High German spannan, German spannen "to join, fasten, extend, connect"), from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin" (source also of spin (v.) and of the two nouns span).

Hence "grasp, lay hold of" (late 14c., a sense now obsolete), "measure by means of the outstretched hand" (1550s). The meaning "to encircle with the hand(s)" is by 1781; the transitive sense of "stretch from side to side or end to end of, extend over or across" (something) is by 1630s. Related: Spanned; spanning.

Entries linking to span

spin(v.)

Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan (transitive) "draw out and twist (raw fibers) into thread," strong verb (past tense spann, past participle spunnen), from Proto-Germanic *spenwan (source also of Old Norse and Old Frisian spinna, Danish spinde, Dutch spinnen, Old High German spinnan, German spinnen, Gothic spinnan), from a suffixed form of PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin."

The intransitive senses of "form threads from fibrous stuff; twist, writhe" developed in late Old English. Figurative use, "to fabricate or produce in a manner analogous in some way to spinning," is by 1550s (also compare yarn). Of spiders from late 14c. In reference to insects (silk worms) by 1510s.

The transitive sense of "cause to turn rapidly" is from 1610s; the intransitive meaning "revolve, turn around rapidly" is recorded by 1660s. To spin out in a motor vehicle is by 1954. To spin one's wheels in the figurative sense of "do work but get no result for it" is by 1960. The meaning "play a phonograph record" is attested by 1936 (Variety).

The meaning "attempt to influence reporters' minds after an event has taken place but before they have written about it" seems to have risen to popularity in the 1984 U.S. presidential campaign; as in spin doctor, which was prominent in newspaper accounts of the election from c. Oct. 23, 1984.

[Joe] Jamele insists his job is just to go for coffee. But others call him a "spin doctor," a Reagan camp term for a person who tries to influence the proper "spin" on news stories. [Rutland, Vt., Herald, Nov. 2, 1984]

In the Middle English phrase When adam delf & eue span (which concludes variously), "in the earliest times," span is the old past tense of spin (along with spanne, spane; spunne, sponne); the reference is to his digging and her spinning as characteristic occupations (compare distaff).

lifespan(n.)

also life-span, "length of time during which someone lives or something exists," 1918, from life (n.) + span (n.1). Often with a sense of "normal or average duration of life, life-expectancy."