What is the Latin word for hair’s breadth?

The usual Latin words for “hair’s breadth” are digitus, discēdō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“hair’s breadth” in Latin

digitusa finger, toe; a digit, number; an inch (in ancient times, a 16th part of a Roman foot)discēdōto leave, depart, abandon, retire (with ablative); to not fulfill, fail to fulfill one's target; to deviate from a targe

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

hair’s breadth

transversus unguis or digitus (e.g., ab aliqua re ne transversum quidem unguem, or digitum, discedere). To be within a hair’s-breadth of anything; Vid: in HAIR (Prov.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for hair’s breadth?: The usual Latin words for “hair’s breadth” are digitus, discēdō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.