ABSTRACT
The origins of anthropometry can be traced to the earliest humans, who needed information about body parts for many of the same reasons which apply today — to fit clothing, design tools and equipment, etc. No doubt they also used body measurements for other‚ “nondesign’’ purposes, such as footprints to estimate the body size of potential adversaries. These and other early applications called for the measurement or estimation of height, as well as the shape and size of hands, feet, and other body parts. Such needs gave rise to the very early use of the terms‚ “span,’’ “cubit,’’ and “canon,’’ which connote extended arm width, height, and a standard, respectively.
