League

League (Lat. leuca, 'a Gallic mile,' a word of Celtic origin), a measure of length of great antiquity. The Romans estimated it as equivalent to 1500 Roman paces, or 1'376 modern English miles. The league was introduced into England by the Normans, probably before the battle of Hastings, and had been by then lengthened to two English miles of that time, or 2$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ modern English miles. At the present day the league is a nautical measure, and signifies the 20th part of a degree—i.e. 3 geographical miles, or 3'456 statute miles. The French and other nations use the same nautical league, but the former nation had (until the introduction of the metrical system) two land-measures of the same name, the legal posting-league = 2'42 English miles, and the league of 25 to the degree = 2'76 statute English miles. For the German league or Meile, see MILE.