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.
Converter
length · Europe · Medieval / Early modern
English ell
approx.
Variant of ell
- Record
- M524
- Definition quality
- Historically documented
- Conversion mode
- multiplicative
- Calculator
- Approximately calculable
Definition
English ell = 1.25 yards = 45 inches.
Reference value
One English ell is understood to be about 1.143 metres.
History & use
Used chiefly for cloth/textile measurement.
Modern use
Retained primarily for historical, educational, or reference use rather than as a current standardized calculator unit.
Did you know?
The English ell was almost twice the Flemish ell in the cited comparison.
Sources & evidence
Source tier Scholarly reference · confidence High
- Source 1 — https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D30F0E69C8E329F0649BEB3DF0D38E7C/stamped-9781846156410c1_p1-37_CBO.pdf/of_guns_and_gunners.pdf
- Source 2 — https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D30F0E69C8E329F0649BEB3DF0D38E7C/stamped-9781846156410c1_p1-37_CBO.pdf/of_guns_and_gunners.pdf
Related measurements
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-.
inch
inlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international inch = exactly 0.0254 m.
foot
ftlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international foot = exactly 0.3048 m.
yard
ydlength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international yard = exactly 0.9144 m.
mile
milength · UK / US · Modern / historical
1 international mile = exactly 1609.344 m = 1760 yd.