vara

[ vahr-uh; Spanish vah-rah; Portuguese vah-ruh ]

noun

, plural va·ras [vahr, -, uh, z, vah, -rahs, vah, -, r, uh, sh].

1. a unit of length in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, varying from about 32 inches (81 centimeters) to about 43 inches (109 centimeters).
2. the square vara, used as a unit of area.

vara

/ ˈvɑːrə /

noun

1. a unit of length used in Spain, Portugal, and South America and having different values in different localities, usually between 32 and 43 inches (about 80 to 108 centimetres)

Word History and Origins

Origin of vara¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish, from Latin vāra “forked pole,” noun use of feminine of vārus “crooked, bent”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vara¹

C17: via Spanish from Latin: wooden trestle, from vārus crooked

Example Sentences

The name is a play on words: “En vara” means on a stick, and “asado” means roasted.

From New York Times

On the assumption that the Spanish vara equaled a yard, and that an average city block measures 300 feet on a side, the village of Chischa would have covered eight city blocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Between the points there are 4 varas of water, which drops to 2.

From Project Gutenberg

In a short time the people were instructed in material arts, constructing tribunals, churches, convents, schools, and houses, all of stone walls, one vara thick, to resist typhoons.

From Project Gutenberg

Come here,—ye canna do too much honor to a young leddy who has such a vara profound esteem for hersel'!

From Project Gutenberg