six-foot-two
UK[ˌsɪks fʊt ˈtuː]US[ˌsɪks fʊt ˈtuː]
adj
Measuring six feet and two inches in height.
Etymology
The term is a modern English compound, directly constructed from its constituent words. "Six" and "two" derive from the Old English numerals "siex" and "twā," both of Proto-Germanic origin and ultimately traceable to Proto-Indo-European. "Foot" comes from Old English "fōt," referring to the body part used as a unit of measurement, from Proto-Germanic fōts and PIE pṓds. The specific compound "six-foot-two" emerged from the standard American and British convention of expressing a person's height in feet and inches, creating a fixed adjectival phrase. Its logic is purely arithmetic and descriptive, with no metaphorical evolution from its literal components.
Analysis
This is a compound adjective formed from three English words: the numeral "six," the unit of length "foot," and the numeral "two." It follows the standard English pattern for describing height.
Examples
He's a six-foot-two basketball player with an impressive wingspan.
The job description specified applicants should be six-foot-two or taller.
She estimated the doorway was about six-foot-two, so he had to duck to get through.