hairsbreadths
Incredibly slim margins
Hairsbreadths is the plural of hairsbreadth—an extremely small distance or margin, literally the width of a single hair.
The word appears almost exclusively in phrases describing narrow escapes or close calls: They missed the oncoming truck by hairsbreadths.
Also spelled hairbreadths or hair's breadths.
Millionth of a meter
- calipersAdjustable-jaw measuring device
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- measurementDetermining size or amount
gauge · metrology · vernier · specifications · exactitude · accuracy · fineness · minuteness
whisker
Stiff facial bristle
margin · fraction · shave · squeak · nick · scrape · inch · breath · whisper · shade
micrometer
Millionth of a meter
- calipersAdjustable-jaw measuring device
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
measurement · gauge · metrology · vernier · specifications · exactitude · accuracy · fineness · minuteness · delicacy
brink
Critical boundary point
threshold · borderline · knife-edge · tightrope · near-miss · escape · brush · graze · skim · almost
hairsbreadthsmiles
Lengths of 5,280 feet
leagues · light-years · vast distances · kilometers · country miles
hairsbreadthslandslides
Masses of earth falling
gulfs · canyons · oceans · worlds apart