Coss

/kɔs/ noun

Definition

An ancient unit of distance used in India and the Middle East, approximately equivalent to 2 to 3 miles or about 3 to 5 kilometers.

Etymology

From Hindi kos, derived from Sanskrit krosa or krosh. The term was used throughout the Mughal Empire and appears in English accounts of Indian travel.

Kelly Says

In colonial-era travel journals, distances in India were described in 'coss' measurements, and confusion about the exact length of a coss (which varied by region) led to wildly inaccurate maps and expedition timelines.

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