ar·chine also ar·shin  (är-shēn')  n. A unit of length formerly used in Russia and Turkey, equal to about 71 centimeters (28 inches). [Russian arshin, from Tatar arshyn, an ell; akin to Turkish arşin, from Middle Persian ārešn, cubit, from Old Persian arašn-, ell; see el- in Indo-European roots.] |