What Is Ell?
An ell is an old unit of length that people once used to measure cloth. It was based on the length of a person’s arm from the elbow to the tip of the fingers.
Different countries used different versions of the ell, so its exact length was not the same everywhere. Today it is not used in normal measuring, but you still see it in history books and old trade records.
Definition
In simple words, an ell is a traditional length used mainly for cloth and fabric.
- Type of unit: length
- Main use: measuring cloth on the cloth merchant’s table
- Based on: the distance from a person’s elbow to the tip of the middle finger
The problem with the ell is that its size changed from place to place. Here are a few common types.
- English ell: about 45 inches, around 1.143 meters
- Scottish ell: about 37 inches, around 0.94 meters
- Flemish ell: about 27 inches, around 0.69 meters
- French ell (also called aune): about 54 inches, around 1.37 meters
Because these values are all different, when you see the word ell in an old text you must know which country and time period it is talking about.
History / Origin
The word ell comes from old Germanic languages and is related to words that mean “elbow”. Long ago people often used body parts for measuring, like the foot, the handspan and the cubit. The ell was one of these body based measures.
The ell became very important in Europe from the Middle Ages onward, because cloth trade was a big business. Merchants selling wool, linen and silk used ells to measure out pieces of fabric on long measuring tables. Many towns even had fixed metal bars or carved marks on walls that showed the local official ell, so everyone knew the correct length.
Over time, countries tried to standardize their own version of the ell, but they still did not match each other. When metric units like the meter were introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries, most governments slowly stopped using the ell and made the meter or yard the legal unit instead.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The ell does not have a single modern official symbol.
- In old documents it is usually written in full as ell.
- Sometimes you may see ell. with a dot as a shortened form.
- There is no widely accepted one letter symbol like m for meter or ft for foot.
When you write about ells today, it is best to write the word ell clearly and also give the value in meters or feet so readers do not get confused.
Current Use Around the World
Today the ell is almost never used in everyday life. Modern units like the meter and yard have replaced it. However, the ell still appears in a few places.
- History and museums: Descriptions of old buildings, trade and clothing often mention ells.
- Traditional sayings: Old English has a proverb, “Give him an inch and he will take an ell”, which means if you give someone a little, they may take much more.
- Academic work: Historians and researchers studying old laws, prices or cloth trade still use the term ell and then convert it to modern units.
- Local customs: In a few regions in Europe, the word for ell may survive in place names or as a historical reference, but people do not actually measure with it anymore.
Example Conversions
Because there were several kinds of ell, we must pick one when we convert. These examples use the English ell, which is about 45 inches or 1.143 meters.
| English ells | Meters (approx) | Centimeters (approx) | Feet and inches (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 ell | 0.571 m | 57.1 cm | 1 ft 10.5 in |
| 1 ell | 1.143 m | 114.3 cm | 3 ft 9 in |
| 2 ells | 2.286 m | 228.6 cm | 7 ft 6 in |
| 3 ells | 3.429 m | 342.9 cm | 11 ft 3 in |
To convert roughly between English ells and meters:
- From ells to meters: multiply the number of ells by 1.143.
- From meters to ells: divide the number of meters by 1.143.
Remember that if your source is talking about a Scottish, Flemish or French ell, the conversion factor will be different.
Related Units
The ell is related to several other traditional length units that also came from body parts.
- Cubit: length from elbow to fingertip in the ancient world, often around 18 inches to 22 inches.
- Yard: a common English unit equal to 3 feet or 36 inches, shorter than the English ell.
- Foot: a basic length unit, 12 inches, used in many old systems.
- Span: distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger of a spread hand.
- Meter: modern standard length unit in the metric system, used today instead of the ell.
FAQs
How long is one ell in meters?
It depends on the country and time. A common English ell is about 1.143 meters. A Scottish ell is shorter, about 0.94 meters. A French ell is longer, about 1.37 meters.
Why did people stop using the ell?
People stopped using the ell because it was not the same length everywhere, which caused confusion in trade. When standard systems like the metric system and the modern yard and foot were introduced, governments made those the legal units instead. Over time, the ell became outdated.
Was the ell only for cloth?
The ell was mostly used for cloth and textiles, especially by tailors and fabric sellers. Sometimes it was used for other lengths too, but cloth measuring was its main purpose.
Is the ell used in any country today?
No country uses the ell as an official unit now. It survives mainly in history books, museum labels and a few old sayings. Everyday measuring uses meters or feet and inches instead.
Is an ell the same as a cubit?
No, but they are similar ideas. Both are based on the arm. A cubit usually measures from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and is shorter. The English ell was often longer than a cubit and closer to one and a quarter yards.
How can I know which type of ell an old text is using?
Look at where and when the text was written. If it is from England after the Middle Ages, it probably means the English ell. If it is from Scotland or from a country like France or the Netherlands, it may be a local ell with a different length. Historical notes or footnotes in the book often explain which one is meant.
