The nautical mile is used mainly for maritime and aviation purposes because of its relation to the degrees of latitude. A '''knot''' is used to describe speed in nautical miles per hour. The term knot is sometimes erroneously used instead of nautical mile (knot being thought a diminutive of nautical). However, the name derives from the ancient practice of throwing a log overboard with a knotted rope attached. The knots were made at fixed intervals and as the rope was paid out the number of knots that passed through a sailor's hands in a fixed time were counted to give a measure of the speed. <ref>http://www.onlineconversion.com/faq_07.htm</ref> | The nautical mile is used mainly for maritime and aviation purposes because of its relation to the degrees of latitude. A '''knot''' is used to describe speed in nautical miles per hour. The term knot is sometimes erroneously used instead of nautical mile (knot being thought a diminutive of nautical). However, the name derives from the ancient practice of throwing a log overboard with a knotted rope attached. The knots were made at fixed intervals and as the rope was paid out the number of knots that passed through a sailor's hands in a fixed time were counted to give a measure of the speed. <ref>http://www.onlineconversion.com/faq_07.htm</ref> |