verst

or verste, werste

[ vurst, verst ]

noun

1. a Russian measure of distance equivalent to 3,500 feet, or 0.6629 mile (1.067 kilometers).

verst

/ vɛəst; vɜːst /

noun

1. a unit of length, used in Russia, equal to 1.067 kilometres (0.6629 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of verst¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from French verste or German Werst, from Russian verstá; Old Russian vĭrsta “age, agemate, pair, measure of length,” cognate with Czech vrstva “layer, stratum, bed,” Polish warstwa “layer, coating, sheet,” Serbo-Croatian vŕsta “sort, kind, species,” Old Church Slavonic vrĭsta “age, time of life,” from unrecorded Slavic vĭrsta “turn, bend,” from the Proto-Indo-European extended root wert- “to turn, wind,” source of Latin vertere “to turn,” and English suffix -ward ( def ); convert ¹, verse

Word History and Origins

Origin of verst¹

C16: from French verste or German Werst, from Russian versta line

Example Sentences

Then I shall go with my seven companions and a worthy priest who has us in charge, to St. Louis in the state of Missouri, 2,000 versts from New York.

From Project Gutenberg

In many cases it was necessary to march to and from work 6 to 8 versts, which swallowed up a considerable portion of the working day.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the door opened; and Ivan, a tall, handsome lad, wearing a travelling jacket, entered the room with a quick step and delivered a letter which he had brought from the post-town 25 versts away.

From Project Gutenberg

Verst, verst, n. a Russian mile, 3500 feet in length, or almost two-thirds of an English mile.

From Project Gutenberg

Its length is six hundred verst, and its peaks seem to be crushed under the heavy clouds.

From Project Gutenberg