What Does The Metric Prefix 'Deca' Mean?

The term 'deca' is used in the SI or metric system as a unit to denote a factor of ten. The symbol that is used instead of writing the whole term is 'da' and the examples that can help you understanding the term well are following: Ten metres can be written as one decameters and the term can also be used when you intend to denote some liquid substance; ten litres is equal to one deca litre or 1da.
     
The origin of the word can be traced in the Greek language and France is the first country to adopt it as a unit way back in the year 1795. Though France accepted it long back, the international community took a ling time to accept it and has given its nod only in the year 1960.