The origin of the measure is uncertain. Both the Romans and the Welsh used multiples of a shorter foot, but  Roman feet was a "step" (') and 3 Welsh feet was a "pace" ('). The Proto-Germanic cubit or arm's-length has been reconstructed as *"alinâ", which developed into the Old English ', Middle English ', and modern ell of 1¼ yd. This has led some to derive the yard of three English feet from pacing; others from the ell or cubit; and still others from Henry I's arm standard (see below). Based on the etymology of the other "yard", some suggest it originally derived from the girth of a person's waist, while others believe it originated as a cubic measure. One official British report writes: