Converter

length · Europe · Historical

ell

variant
Record
M251
Definition quality
Variant-dependent
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Definition

Cambridge distinguishes English 45 in, Scottish 37.2 in, Flemish 27 in forms.

Reference value

regional variants

History & use

Ells were strongly associated with textile/cloth measurement across Europe.

Modern use

Retained primarily for historical, educational, or reference use rather than as a current standardized calculator unit.

Did you know?

Same name, dramatically different cloth lengths: exactly the variant problem the site should expose.

Documented variants

length · Europe · Historical

Cambridge gives the Flemish ell as 27 English inches.

approx.

length · Europe · Historical

Cambridge gives the Scottish ell as 37.2 English inches.

approx.

length · Europe · Medieval / Early modern

English ell = 1.25 yards = 45 inches.

approx.

Sources & evidence

Related measurements

length · International · Modern

SI base unit of length. Its definition fixes the speed of light in vacuum at exactly 299,792,458 m/s, with the second defined from the caesium-133 hyperfine frequency.

length · International · Modern

1 km = 1000 m by the SI prefix kilo-.

length · International · Modern

1 cm = 0.01 m by the SI prefix centi-.

length · International · Modern

1 mm = 0.001 m by the SI prefix milli-.

length · UK / US · Modern / historical

1 international inch = exactly 0.0254 m.

length · UK / US · Modern / historical

1 international foot = exactly 0.3048 m.

length · UK / US · Modern / historical

1 international yard = exactly 0.9144 m.

length · UK / US · Modern / historical

1 international mile = exactly 1609.344 m = 1760 yd.