Business Segment Information for Continuing Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
May 01, 2015	May 02, 2014	May 01, 2015	May 02, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 500,080us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 510,861us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 946,424us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 996,801us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Segment Earnings	56,994esl_SegmentEarningsLosses	76,613esl_SegmentEarningsLosses	102,198esl_SegmentEarningsLosses	142,993esl_SegmentEarningsLosses
Corporate expense	(22,007)	(17,037)	(41,022)	(32,256)
Other income	0us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome	0us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome	12,744us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome	0us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome
Interest income	124us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	136us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	303us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	255us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome
Interest expense	(8,564)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(8,434)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(14,405)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(17,059)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(329)	0	(329)	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	26,218	51,278	59,489	93,933
Avionics & Controls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	210,589	184,616	387,067	378,506
Segment Earnings	9,449	23,310	28,551	51,050
Sensors & Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	176,425	205,111	340,081	386,885
Segment Earnings	22,564	23,124	32,135	43,756
Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	113,066	121,134	219,276	231,410
Segment Earnings	$ 24,981	$ 30,179	$ 41,512	$ 48,187

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses excluding corporate expense from operating revenues.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Segment reporting information corporate expense.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

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-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

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The amount of interest income and other income recognized during the period. Included in this element is interest derived from investments in debt securities, cash and cash equivalents, and other investments which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money and other income from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 9

-Article 9

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- Definition

The total amount of other operating income, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

+ References

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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