Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ELL, n. [Sax. elne; Sw. aln; D. ell, elle; G. elle; Fr. aune; Arm. goalen; L. ulna; Gr. ωλενη; W. elin, an elbow, and glin, the knee. Qu.]

A measure of different lengths in different countries, used chiefly for measuring cloth. The ells chiefly used in Great Britain are the English and Flemish. The English ell is three feet and nine inches, or a yard and a quarter. The Flemish ell is 27 inches, or three quarters of a yard. The English is to the Flemish as five to three. In Scotland, an ell is 37 2/10 English inches.