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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

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) 14.. Acts I. 387/1.
The rude [sal contene] xl. fallis. The fall sall hald vi ellis 1491 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 63.
The quhilk hail croft extendis … to the quantite of a feilde rude and sex ellis 1528 Cal. Chart. (Reg. H.) Suppl.
At thair be halff ane ell of breyd on euerylk syd off the marche stanys to be free wnlawboryt for euer 1596 Dalr. I. 208/24.
He commandet the wal of Abircorne to be erected agane of viii els thik, xii els hiche 1629 M. Works Acc. XXI. 31.
Ane cleik and ane cheinȝie ane ell lang 1640 Bk. Pasquils 103.
With … my bandeleire, My 7 yells of Flanders matche, And my sheiring suord 1666 Bamff Chart. 307.
Ane aiker and eighteen ellis of land(2) c1500 Crying of Play 39.
Five thousand ellis ȝeid in his frog Of hieland pladdis of haire 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. 30.
ix ellis of ell braid claitht 1527 Treas. Acc. V. 301.
Ane el crammessy satyne to be [the] bawby Jhesus of the Senyis ane coit 1564 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 138.
Ten servitouris of ell braid lynnyng 1570 Soc. Ant. VI. 52.
Four ellis ȝallow tauffateis, … at xxiiij s … a ell 1640 Brechin Test. V. 291.
Four ellis of ellbraid linning cloath

b. Used as a plurall. (Cf. Eln(e 1 b, 2 b.) c1500 Crying of Play 43.
Ellevyne ell wyde met was his mouth 1566 Fleming Q. Mary 500.
Of velvat iij elle 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 126.
Fyve ell florit satene 1670 Lauder Jrnl. 239.
For 2 elle and a quarter of borders 1692 Foulis Acc. Bk. 151.
5 ell draptaberrie cloath

2. The kingis ell, = Elwand 2. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 437 (T).
Be the moving of the mone, … & the kingis ell