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Ell facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This article is about ELL. For other uses, see Ell (disambiguation).

The ell was an old unit of length, mostly used for measuring cloth. It was usually about 45 inches long. That's about 1.143 meters. Imagine the length of your arm from your shoulder or elbow to your wrist – the ell was based on that idea, but its exact length was never officially set in English law.

What Was the Ell?

The ell was a common way to measure fabric for clothes or other items. It was very useful before we had standard measuring tapes. People would use an ell to make sure they were getting the right amount of material.

Different Kinds of Ells

Not all "ells" were the same length! Different countries had their own versions:

  • The Scottish ell was shorter, about 37 inches.
  • The Flemish ell (from a region in Europe) was even shorter, around 27 inches.
  • The Polish ell was about 0.78 meters, which is around 31 inches.

Why We Don't Use Ells Anymore

Today, the ell is hardly ever used. We now have standard units like meters and yards that are the same everywhere. Many other old units based on parts of the human body have also fallen out of use, such as:

  • Digit: A very small unit, like the width of a finger.
  • Palm: The width of your hand without the thumb.
  • Hand: The width of your hand, often used for measuring horses.
  • Span: The distance from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your pinky finger when your hand is stretched out.
  • Cubit: The length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. Sometimes, the word ell was even used to mean the same thing as a cubit.

The Ell-Wand

An ell-wand was a special rod that was exactly one ell long. It was used by officials to make sure everyone was measuring cloth correctly. Imagine a long stick used as a ruler! King Edward I of England even ordered that every town should have its own ell-wand to ensure fair measurements.

Images for kids

  • Regensburg - Altes Rathaus - Masse - 2016

    Standard units in Regensburg, Germany. The metal rods show different lengths: a fathom (Klafter), foot (Schuch), and ell (Öln).

  • About the Dunkeld ell - geograph.org.uk - 1505823

    An information board outside The Ell Shop in Dunkeld, Scotland, explaining the local ell.

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