noun
ell
EHL
noun
1
An old unit of length, roughly the distance from elbow to fingertip, historically around 45 inches in England.
"The merchant measured out three ells of cloth for the gown."
2
A wing of a building set at a right angle to the main structure, so it forms an L-shape.
"They added an ell to the farmhouse to make room for a new kitchen."
How to Use Ell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned unit of length (roughly an arm's length), or an L-shaped wing added to a building.
When to use it
The measurement sense is now historical/archaic; you will mostly meet it in older texts.
Word Forms
ells plural, ells plural, Ells plural
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The merchant measured out three _____ of cloth for the gown.
Etymology
From Old English eln, "forearm," from an ancient root meaning "elbow" — the unit was originally just a forearm's length.