Span

Old English spann

(plural spans)

The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.

Alexander PopeYet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound.
FarquharLife's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.
2007. Zerzan, John. Silence.The unsilent present is a time of evaporating attention spans,

The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.
The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.
(nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
(obsolete) A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
(mathematics) the space of all linear combinations of something

Old English spannan

Full definition of span

To traverse the distance between.The suspension bridge spanned the canyon as tenuously as one could imagine.
To cover or extend over an area or time period.The parking lot spans three acres.The novel spans three centuries.World record! 5 GHz WiFi connection spans 189 miles. http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/27/world-record-5ghz-wifi-connection-spans-189-miles/

To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder

Inflected form of spin

span