Dictionary entry

Ell

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Ell (?), n. [AS. eln; akin to D. el, elle, G. elle, OHG. elina, Icel. alin, Dan. alen, Sw. aln, Goth. alenia, L. ulna elbow, ell, Gr. � elbow. Cf. Elbow, Alnage.] A measure for cloth; — now rarely used. It is of different lengths in different countries; the English ell being 45 inches, the Dutch or Flemish ell 27, the Scotch about 37.