ell

1

or el

[ el ]
See synonyms for ell on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an extension usually at right angles to one end of a building.

  1. something that is L-shaped.

Origin of ell

1
First recorded in 1765–75; a spelling of the letter name, or by shortening of elbow

Words Nearby ell

Other definitions for ell (2 of 2)

ell2
[ el ]

noun
  1. a former measure of length, varying in different countries: in England equal to 45 inches (114 centimeters).

Origin of ell

2
First recorded before 950; Middle English, Old English eln; cognate with Old Norse eln, Old High German elina, Gothic aleina, Latin ulna, Greek ōlénē. See elbow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ell (1 of 2)

ell1

/ (ɛl) /


noun
  1. an obsolete unit of length equal to approximately 45 inches

Origin of ell

1
Old English eln the forearm (the measure originally being from the elbow to the fingertips); related to Old High German elina, Latin ulna, Greek ōlenē

British Dictionary definitions for ell (2 of 2)

ell2

/ (ɛl) /


noun
  1. an extension to a building, usually at right angles and located at one end

  2. a pipe fitting, pipe, or tube with a sharp right-angle bend

Origin of ell

2
C20: a spelling of L, indicating a right angle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012