ELL
An ell (from Proto-Germanic *alinō, cognate with Latin ulna) is a northwestern European unit of measurement, originally understood as a cubit (the combined length of the forearm and extended hand). The word literally means "arm", and survives in the modern English word "elbow" (arm-bend). Later usage through the 19th century refers to several longer units, some of which are thought to derive from a "double ell".
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". An iron ellwand is preserved in the entrance to Stånga Church on the Swedish island of Gotland, indicating the role that rural churches had in disseminating uniform measures.
Several national forms existed, with different lengths, including the Scottish ell (≈37 inches or 94 centimetres), the Flemish ell [el] (≈27 in or 68.6 cm), the French ell [aune] (≈54 in or 137.2 cm), the Polish ell (≈31 in or 78.7 cm), the Danish alen (24 Danish inches or 2 Danish fod: 62.7708 cm), the Swedish aln (2 Swedish fot 59.38 cm), and the German ell [Elle], which was different lengths in Frankfurt (54.7 cm), Cologne, Leipzig (Saxony), and Hamburg.
Select customs were observed by English importers of Dutch textiles; although all cloths were bought by the Flemish ell, linen was sold by the English ell, but tapestry was sold by the Flemish ell.
The Viking ell was the measure from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, about 18 inches (460 mm). The Viking or primitive ell was used in Iceland up to the 13th century. By the 13th century, a law set the "stika" as equal to two ells, which referred to the English ell.
Yin Demos
- 2023-03-03T00:00:00.000000Z
Obstacles
- 2025-12-05T00:00:00.000000Z
Words in Red
- 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000000Z
Story of L
- 2025-08-22T00:00:00.000000Z
Motions
- 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000000Z
So Confused
- 2025-04-18T00:00:00.000000Z
Shelter
- 2025-01-10T00:00:00.000000Z
Terrified
- 2024-08-09T00:00:00.000000Z
Lost And Found
- 2024-02-23T00:00:00.000000Z
In My Hands
- 2023-08-11T00:00:00.000000Z
Control
- 2022-11-18T00:00:00.000000Z
Kaleidoscope
- 2022-08-19T00:00:00.000000Z
Boo
- 2022-05-27T00:00:00.000000Z
Take Me Home!
- 2022-02-11T00:00:00.000000Z
Helltown
- 2021-06-04T00:00:00.000000Z
Similar Artists