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Glite Dictionary
🏠 L-shaped extension 📏 Old length unit
ell

ell

9.9
An old measure for cloth equal to about 45 inches
  • noun
  • /ɛl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : codo
  • The tailor measured the fabric in ells.

Examples

  • A bolt of fabric was said to be ten ells long in the old records.

  • In the past, cloth was often measured by the ell in British markets.

  • The merchant sold three ells of fine linen to the tailor.

  • An ell is approximately 45 inches long.

  • The tailor explained that he needed an additional ell of fabric to complete the dress.

  • During the inventory, the merchant measured the cloth in ells to determine how much he had left.

  • The old measurement of one ell is approximately 45 inches long, commonly used in textile trades.

Compounds

ell-wand
  • Archaic
9.9

A rod one ell long used to measure cloth

How Long

fathom
  • Specialized
10 6.5
ell
  • Archaic
9.9
yard
∞ 1.0
foot
∞ 1.0
inch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

ell singular
ells plural

Etymology

Ell The word ell for a measure of cloth comes from an old English word eln meaning 'arm' and is the same root as elbow, so an ell was originally the length of a forearm and used to measure cloth.