ell-wand Chiefly Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈɛlwɒnd)
Also 5 elenwand, ellewande, elwonde, Sc. elnewande, 7–9 elwand.
[f. ell + wand.]
1. A measuring rod, an ell-measure: sometimes used for ‘yard-measure’.
| [1403 Nottingham Borough Rec. II. 34 Ipse Johannes cepit quendam elenwand, et ipsam percussit super capud.] ? a 1500 tr. Leges Burgorum Scociæ xlviii. in Sc. Acts (1844) I. 342 Ilk burges may hafe in his hous..ane elnewand. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 36 The heire of ane burges, is of perfite age, quhen he..can..measure claith (with ane elwand). 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iii. i, An elwand fills his hand, his habit mean. 1834 H. Miller Scenes & Leg. xxi. (1857) 304 Beating time with his ellwand on the point of his shoe. |
† 2. The larger of the bones of the fore-arm; = ulna. Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 139 Elle wande [P. elwonde,] ulna. |
3. Sc. The group of stars called Orion's Belt.
| 1513 Douglas æneis viii. Prol. 153 The son, the sevin sternis, and the Charll wane, The elwand, the elementis, and Arthuris hufe. c 1817 Hogg Tales & Sk. IV. 29 King's Elwand (now foolishly termed the Belt of Orion). |