Field

Field (field) is an old Russian track measure for measuring large distances, having several numerical correspondences:

1. The distance corresponding to the length of the Greek ( Ptolemaic ) or Roman stage (about 185 m); track measure;
2. The distance corresponding to the length of the Roman Greek mile is 8 stadia (about 1480 m); major travel measure;
3. The distance is one day's journey (the same as the "bottom" ).
4. The distance traveled by the plowman (plowman) during plowing from one edge of the field to the other, given the standard length of the standard allotment, is approximately 750 m.

A large (great) field - the Western European track measure - a mile, for example, Italian (about 7395.5 m), was equated to five simple fields or milestones.

Known references in the written sources of the XI century . In the manuscripts of the 15th century there is an entry: “the field of plantings of 7 hundred and 50” (750 fathoms in length).

The word is found in the Russian translation of the Bible : “and whoever compels you to go one field with him, go two with him” ( Matthew 5:41 ). In this place, the word "field" translated the Greek word μίλιον, that is, a mile , a thousand steps.

“The Legend of the Mamayev Massacre ” mentions the distance from the Berezui tract to the crossing of the Don River in 23 fields.

The meaning of the word in the Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language by Vladimir Dahl ^[1] :

“ The field - cf. ( trample ) generally a place, space, space, on which they work or act; arena, stage, hippodrome, suitable place for running, horse racing, for lists, games, wrestling , etc. Take to the field. Arrange a field for cages, bullying, animal fighting. The battlefield is the place where it happened. ”

In modern Russian, the word field in high style means occupation: for example, "work in such and such a field."