Paris point
# Paris point

The Paris point is a unit of length defined as 2⁄3 centimetre (6.67 mm; 0.262 in). It is commonly used for shoe sizes in Continental Europe.

The unit was invented by French shoemakers in the early 1800s. Its origin probably lies in 2⁄3 centimetre being very close to 1⁄4 inch; a French inch pouce-roi is around 27 mm, a quarter of that is 6.7 mm, close to 6.6 mm defined for the Paris point.

