Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ell

noun

/ɛl/

Definition

A unit of measurement for length, historically used in the textile industry, equal to 45 inches (or 114.3 cm) in the United States and 40 inches (or 101.6 cm) in Britain.

Examples

She measured the fabric and found it to be three ells long.
In medieval times, an ell was a common measurement for wool cloth.
The tailor ordered an additional ell of fabric to complete the garment.

Meaning

An ell refers to a specific length measurement that was traditionally used for cloth and textiles, particularly to denote the length of fabric being sold.