An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A distance determined by the extent of something specified. → Jeans length

Etymology (EN): M.E. length(e), O.E. lengthu “length,” from P.Gmc. *langitho, noun of quality from *langgaz (root of O.E. lang “long,” cognate with Pers. derâz, as below) + -itho, abstract noun suffix. Cognate with O.N. lengd, O.Fris. lengethe, Du. lengte.

Etymology (PE): Derâzâ quality noun of derâz “long,” variants Laki, Kurdi derež;
Mid.Pers. drâz “long;” O.Pers. dargam “long;” Av. darəga-, darəγa- “long,” drājištəm “longest;” cf. Skt. dirghá- “lon (in space and time);” L. longus “long;” Gk. dolikhos “elongated;” O.H.G., Ger. lang; Goth. laggs “long;” PIE base *dlonghos- “long;” tul loan from Ar. ţaul, used in → wavelength.