Used in the past, 'ell' isn't common today except in historical or academic contexts regarding old measurements. Textiles in the 18th century were often measured in ells.
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Not Equivalent
Different countries had varying lengths for an 'ell', so it's not a precise term in historical documents. Scottish ells and English ells were not the same.
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Obsolete Term
'Ell' for measurement is outdated; use metric or imperial units instead for current references. Unlike meters or feet, you wouldn't use ells to measure fabric today.