elbow

elbow
\ \ [OE] Logically enough, elbow means etymologically ‘arm bend’. It comes from a prehistoric West and North Germanīc *alinobogan (which also produced German ellenbogen, Dutch elleboog, and Danish albue).
\ \ This was a compound formed from *alināforearm’ and *bogan (source of English bow).
\ \ However, there is a further twist. For *alinā (source also of English ell [OE], a measure of length equal to that of the forearm) itself goes back ultimately to an Indo-European base *el-, *ele- which itself meant ‘bend’, and produced not just words for ‘forearm’ (such as Latin ulna), but also words for ‘elbow’ (such as Welsh elin).
\ \ So at this deepest level of all, elbow means tautologically ‘bend bend’.
\ \ Cf.BOW, ELL, ULNA

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Elbow — Марк Поттер (слева) и Гай Гарви Основная информация …   Википедия

  • Elbow — El bow, n. [AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG. elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. ?lnbogi; prop.; arm bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st {Ell}, and 4th {Bow}.] 1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Elbow — El bow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Elbowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Elbowing}.] To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another. [1913 Webster] They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] {To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Elbow — steht für folgende Orte: Elbow (Saskatchewan), Ort in Kanada Elbow (Texas), Ort in den Vereinigten Staaten weiteres Bedeutungen: Elbow (Band) Siehe auch Elbow Lake Diese Seite i …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • elbow — c.1200, elbowe, from O.E. elnboga, from ell length of the forearm + boga bow, arch, from W.Gmc. *alinobogan, from P.Gmc. *elino bugon, lit. bend of the forearm (Cf. M.Du. ellenboghe, Du. elleboog, O.H.G. elinbogo, Ger. Ellenbogen, O.N …   Etymology dictionary

  • elbow — ► NOUN 1) the joint between the forearm and the upper arm. 2) a piece of piping or something similar bent through an angle. ► VERB 1) strike with one s elbow. 2) push roughly away. 3) (often elbow one s way) move by pushing past people with one s …   English terms dictionary

  • elbow — [el′bō΄] n. [ME elbowe < OE elboga < PGmc * alino boga (> Ger ellenbogen): see ELL2 & BOW2] 1. a) the joint between the upper and lower arm; esp., the outer part of the angle made by a bent arm b) the joint corresponding to this in the… …   English World dictionary

  • Elbow — El bow, v. i. 1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an elbow. [1913 Webster] 2. To push rudely along; to elbow one s way. Purseproud, elbowing Insolence. Grainger. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • elbow — [n] angular part of arm; angularly shaped item ancon, angle, bend, bow, corner, crazy bone*, crook, crutch, curve, fork, funny bone*, half turn, hinge, joint, turn; concepts 418,436 elbow [v] push aside bend, bulldoze, bump, crowd, hook, hustle,… …   New thesaurus

  • Elbow — Elbow, Eiland der Gruppe Bahamas, s.d. 1) A) c) …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • elbow — index jostle (bump into) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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