an obsolete unit of length equal to approximately 45 inches
Word origin
Old English eln the forearm (the measure originally being from the elbow to the fingertips); relatedto Old High German elina, Latin ulna, Greek ōlenē
ell in British English2
(ɛl)
noun
1.
an extension to a building, usually at right angles and located at one end
2.
a pipe fitting, pipe, or tube with a sharp right-angle bend
Word origin
C20: a spelling of L, indicating a right angle
ell in American English1
(ɛl)
noun
1. US
an extension or wing at right angles to the main structure
2.
an L-shaped pipe or conduit fitting
ell in American English2
(ɛl)
noun
a former English unit of measure, mainly for cloth, equal to 45 inches, or any of various other European measures of different lengths
Word origin
ME elle, elne < OE eln, akin to Ger elle < Gmc *alinō, lit., arm, hence arm's length < IE base *elei-, to bend, *olina, elbow > L ulna, arm, elbow, Gr ōlenē, elbow
Examples of 'ell' in a sentence
ell
Margaret says as she'll send your slice to a post office if you'll say where the bleedin ' ` ell you - `
Gash, Jonathan THE TARTAN RINGERS
Mean as bleddy ` ell, she was, but they had plenty o" money.
Sillitoe, Alan THE OPEN DOOR
`We - ell, as long as we understand each other, Mrs Kempton.