What do the following phrases have in common?

 

CURTAIN ROD

SECOND HAND STORE

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

 

HINT:

Furlong could be added to the list.

Answer:

 

Each phrase contains a word of linear measure*:

 

curtain ROD

second HAND store

major LEAGUE baseball

 

*ROD and FURLONG are old English measures. A furlong is 1/8 of a mile and is in current use in horse racing. HANDS are used to measure the height of horses. One hand is considered four inches. A LEAGUE is an old-fashioned measure equal to 3 miles. In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the 20,000 leagues are the distance Captain Nemo traveled - not the depth.