ell

ell ¹  (l)

n.

1. A wing of a building at right angles to the main structure.

2. A right-angled bend in a pipe or conduit; an elbow.

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[From its resemblance to the shape of the capital letter L, or short for elbow.]

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ell ²  (l)

n.

Any of several historical units of measure corresponding roughly to the length of the arm, especially the English measure equal to 45 inches (114 centimeters).

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[Middle English, from Old English eln, the length from the elbow to the middle finger's tip, ell; see el- in Indo-European roots.]

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ell ³  (l)

n.

Variant of el¹.

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ell¹

n

(Mathematics & Measurements / Units) an obsolete unit of length equal to approximately 45 inches

[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]

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ell²

n

1. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) an extension to a building, usually at right angles and located at one end

2. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a pipe fitting, pipe, or tube with a sharp right-angle bend

[a spelling of L, indicating a right angle]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ell - an extension at the end and at right angles to the main building annex, annexe, wing, extension - an addition that extends a main building