elbow

Meaning

Noun

1. The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.
2. (broadly) Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, coastline, etc.; an angular or jointed part of any structure, such as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
3. (US, dated) A detective.
4. Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the free-throw lane.
5. A hit, strike, or blow with the elbow.
6. Two nearby crossings of a rope.

Verb

1. (transitive) To push with the elbow or elbows; to forge ahead using the elbows to assist.
2. To strike with the elbow.
3. To nudge, jostle or push.
4. (informal) To force (someone) to quit or lose their job so that someone else can be hired.

Synonyms

nudge

jostle

knee

push

joint

knock

wrist

thrust

hustle

shoulder

human elbow

cubitus

elbow pipe

shove

bend

cranked

knee joint

finger

knuckle

heel

horn

wrist joint

poke

curve

drive

propel

elbow joint

force

articulatio cubiti

cubital joint

send

sideswipe

springer

square

stovepipe

ten

tongs

turn

twist

wangle

wheedle

wristbands

back of hand

elbow-shaped bend

back elbow

downward elbow

side elbow

upper elbow

genu

bent tube

Translations

coude

codo

gomito

Ellbogen

cotovelo

elleboog

colze

Ellenbogen

αγκώνας

dirsek

cubitus

Knie

genou

Elle

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɛlbəʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: elbowe

Inherited from Old English: elboga

Cognate with Scots: elbuck

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Älbooge

Cognate with Dutch: elleboog

Cognate with Low German: Ellebage

Cognate with German: Ellbogen

Cognate with Danish: albue

Cognate with Icelandic: olbogi

In summary

From Middle English elbowe, from Old English elboga, elnboga (“elbow”), from Proto-Germanic *alinabugô (“elbow”), equivalent to ell + bow. Cognate with Scots elbuck (“elbow”), Saterland Frisian Älbooge (“elbow”), Dutch elleboog (“elbow”), Low German Ellebage (“elbow”), German Ellbogen, Ellenbogen (“elbow”), Danish albue (“elbow”), Icelandic olbogi, olnbogi (“elbow”).