شِبْرٌ

A span; the space between the extremity of the thumb and that of the little finger (Msb, K) when extended apart in the usual manner: (Msb:) of the masculine gender: (K:) plural أَشْبَارٌ, (S, Msb, K,) the only plural form. (Sb.) [See also بُصْمٌ, and ذِرَاعٌ.] [Hence,] قَصِيرُ الشِّبْرِ (applied to a man, S) (tropical:) Contracted, or short, in make: (S, A, K:) or, according to some of the lexicons, in step. (TA.)

[As a measure in astronomy, it is said in several of the law-books to be The twelfth part of the رُمْح; and therefore twentytwo minutes and a half, according to modern usage: but there is reason to believe that ancient usage differed from the modern with respect to both of these measures, and was not precise nor uniform. See رُمْحٌ.]

قِبَالُ الشِّبْرِ (assumed tropical:) The serpent: (IAar, K:) and so قِبَالُ الشِّسْعِ. (IAar, TA.)

See also شَبْرٌ, in two places.