Convert Ell (ell) to Barleycorn (barleycorn) instantly.
About these units
Ell (ell)
The ell is a traditional European unit of length, varying between 45–70 cm depending on the region. It originated from the forearm or arm length and became standardized in many countries for measuring cloth and textiles. In commerce, the ell simplified transactions, allowing merchants to describe fabric lengths efficiently. In tailoring, it offered a consistent basis for cutting and patterning clothing. The unit was essential in guild systems, where precision and repeatability in textile production were critical. While largely obsolete today due to the metric system, the ell remains significant for historians, textile scholars, and anyone studying pre-modern European commerce and craft practices.
Barleycorn (barleycorn)
The barleycorn is an English unit, approximately 1/3 inch (8.47 mm), originally based on the length of a grain of barley. It served as a small-scale measure in tailoring, shoe sizing, and other crafts. In particular, the English shoe size system was historically based on barleycorns, with increments in size corresponding to single barleycorn units. This unit exemplifies the anthropometric and agronomic origins of measurement. Even today, the barleycorn's influence persists in the traditional shoe sizing system in the UK and the US, providing continuity with historical practices.