DSL - DOST   Ell, El, n. Also: elle, yell.  [ME. elle (15th c.), reduced form of ellen, eln(e ELN(E.]
    1. An ell, esp. of cloth. Also comb. ell-braid, ellwide. (1)  The rude [sal contene] xl. fallis. The fall sall hald vi ellis; Acts I. 387/1.  The quhilk hail croft extendis ... to the quantite of a feilde rude and sex ellis; 1491 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 63.  At thair be halff ane ell of breyd on euerylk syd off the marche stanys to be free wnlawboryt for euer; 1528 Cal. Chart. (Reg. H.) Suppl.  He commandet the wal of Abircorne to be erected agane of viii els thik, xii els hiche; Dalr. I. 208/24.  Ane cleik and ane cheinie ane ell lang; 1629 M. Works Acc. XXI. 31.  With ... my bandeleire, My 7 yells of Flanders matche, And my sheiring suord; 1640 Bk. Pasquils 103.  Ane aiker and eighteen ellis of land; 1666 Bamff Chart. 307. (2)  Five thousand ellis eid in his frog Of hieland pladdis of haire; Crying of Play 39.  ix ellis of ell braid claitht; 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. 30.  Ane el crammessy satyne to be [the] bawby Jhesus of the Senyis ane coit; 1527 Treas. Acc. V. 301.  Ten servitouris of ell braid lynnyng; 1564 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 138.  Four ellis allow tauffateis, ... at xxiiij s ... a ell; 1570 Soc. Ant. VI. 52.  Four ellis of ellbraid linning cloath; 1640 Brechin Test. V. 291.
    b. Used as a plurall. (Cf. ELN(E 1 b, 2 b.)  Ellevyne ell wyde met was his mouth; Crying of Play 43.  Of velvat iij elle; 1566 Fleming Q. Mary 500.  Fyve ell florit satene; 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 126.  For 2 elle and a quarter of borders; 1670 Lauder Jrnl. 239.  5 ell draptaberrie cloath; 1692 Foulis Acc. Bk. 151.
    2. The kingis ell, = ELWAND 2.  Be the moving of the mone, ... & the kingis ell; Montg. Flyt. 437 (T).

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