I. ˈelˌbō noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English elbowe, from Old English elboga, elnboga; akin to Old High German elinbogo elbow, Old Norse olbogi, ölnbogi, Middle Dutch ellenboge; all from a prehistoric Germanic compound whose constituents are akin to Old English eln ell and boga bow — more at ell , bow
1.
a. : the joint between the human forearm and upper arm that supports the outer curve of the arm when bent
b. : a joint in the anterior limb of a vertebrate animal corresponding to the human elbow — see dog illustration
c. : the portion of the sleeve of a garment that encloses this joint ; especially : the portion that covers the outer bend when the arm is flexed
wearing a tattered coat with holes in the elbows
2. : something felt to resemble an elbow: as
a. : a sharp bend in a river or coast
north to south through the elbow of the Minnesota river — Meridel Le Sueur
b.
(1) : a bend or projection (as in a wall or building)
her starboard quarter … hit with a solid thump against the elbow of the brick-faced canal side — C.S.Forester
(2) : crossette 1
c. archery : the part of the limb of a reflexed bow that bends sharply away from the string
d. : an angular pipe fitting : ell
3. : an arm of a chair
he sat leaning backward obliquely in an easy chair with his leg thrown over the elbow of it — Punch
•
- at one's elbow
- bend an elbow
- out at elbows
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to shove aside by jabbing with or as if with the elbow : press upon : push , jostle , nudge
they elbowed, punched, and insulted each other — Wirt Williams
little bazaars and shops elbowed one another for standing room — L.C.Douglas
2.
a. : to make (one's way) by elbowing people
the boy elbowed his way through the crowd
b. : to force (one's way) forwardly and impudently
a habit of elbowing her way into the best social circles
intransitive verb
1. : to elbow one's way : push or jostle along
elbowing through the crowd — Robert Westerby
2. : to make an angle : turn
the passage elbowed and we were in an enormous cellar — Merle Considine