Smoot

Smoot

The smoot ( /ˈsmuːt/) is a nonstandard unit of length created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot, a fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 lay on the Harvard Bridge (between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts), and was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the bridge.

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Famous quotes containing the word smoot:

    “Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
    With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
    But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
    Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte—
    And al was conscience and tendre herte.”
    —Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)