Ell: Difference between revisions
m Reverted edits by 68.38.47.83 (talk) to last version by Pmanderson |
Clarify which ell is refered to in the picture |
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{{otheruses|ELL}} |
{{otheruses|ELL}} |
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{{Vitruvian_Man_Measurements}} |
{{Vitruvian_Man_Measurements}} |
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[[Image:Ell.jpg|thumb|200px|One ell.]] |
[[Image:Ell.jpg|thumb|200px|One ell, when used as an alias for the [[cubit]].]] |
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An '''ell''' (from Proto-Indo-European *el- "elbow, forearm"), when used as an English unit of length, is usually 45 [[inch]]es, ''i.e.'' [[1 E0 m|1.143 m]] (for the international inch). It was mainly used in the [[tailor]]ing business but is now obsolete. It was derived from the length of the arm from the shoulder (or the elbow) to the wrist, although the exact length was never defined in English law. |
An '''ell''' (from Proto-Indo-European *el- "elbow, forearm"), when used as an English unit of length, is usually 45 [[inch]]es, ''i.e.'' [[1 E0 m|1.143 m]] (for the international inch). It was mainly used in the [[tailor]]ing business but is now obsolete. It was derived from the length of the arm from the shoulder (or the elbow) to the wrist, although the exact length was never defined in English law. |
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Revision as of 17:13, 10 May 2008
Template:Vitruvian Man Measurements
An ell (from Proto-Indo-European *el- "elbow, forearm"), when used as an English unit of length, is usually 45 inches, i.e. 1.143 m (for the international inch). It was mainly used in the tailoring business but is now obsolete. It was derived from the length of the arm from the shoulder (or the elbow) to the wrist, although the exact length was never defined in English law.
Several different national forms existed, with different lengths, including the Scottish ell (approximately 37 inches), the Flemish ell (approximately 27 inches) and the Polish ell (0.78 metres, approximately 31 inches).
Sometimes ell is used as an alias for the cubit.
An ell-wand or ellwand was a rod of length one ell used for official measurement. Edward I of England required that every town have one. In Scotland, the Belt of Orion was called "the King's Ellwand."[1][2]
- ^ infoplease.com, OED s. Ell-wand.
- ^ cricinfo