八咫やあた

noun

eight ata (approx. 144 cm)

Only with reading やあた

Archaic unit of length; 1 ata (咫) is the distance between the tips of the thumb and middle finger when spread, roughly 18 cm. Eight ata is about 144 cm. Used in historical contexts, especially in reference to the mythical sword 八咫鏡 (Yata no Kagami).

See also: 咫

• 八咫鏡やたのかがみは、八咫やあたの大おおきさの鏡かがみと伝つたえられている。

  The Yata no Kagami is said to be a mirror of eight ata in size.

noun

large; long

Only with reading やた

Used in classical or mythological contexts to describe something of great size or length, often in fixed expressions like 八咫烏 (Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow). The reading is usually やた.

• 八や咫た烏がらすは神しん話わに登とう場じょうする大おおきな烏からすである。

  The Yatagarasu is a large crow that appears in mythology.