Definition:Knot (Unit of Measurement)/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Knot
The knot is defined in terms of the nautical mile, that is, $1852$ metres or approximately $6076$ feet.
However, the admiralty mile, that is, $6080$ feet, has until fairly recently also been used to define the knot.
Because of this confusion, it is recommended that the knot is determined to ne unsuitable for accurate measurements.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): knot: 2.
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): knot: 2.