ell

Everyday

1. The name of the letter L. tree →
2. An old measure of length, about the length of an arm, used for cloth (in England about 45 inches, a little over a metre). tree →
3. (USA) An extension of a building at a right angle, making an L shape. tree →

In the lessons

In history and old stories the ell was a measure for cloth. The proverb «Give him an inch and he'll take an ell» means if you give someone a little, they will take a lot (today usually «a mile»). In lessons about letters, «ell» is how L is named. Phrases: «an ell of cloth».

Examples

• The merchant sold three ells of cloth. tree →
• An ell was about the length of a man's arm. tree →
• «Give them an inch and they'll take an ell,» said Granny. tree →
• The farmhouse has an ell at the back. tree →
• Write a small ell and a capital ell. tree →
• As they came nearer they could see it was a dwarf, with a shrivelled-up face and a snow-white beard an ell long. tree →

Note

Use «an»: an ell. Rare today. Do not confuse with «ill», «eel» or «hell».