elbow

Meanings

Noun

• The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.
• 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.
• A detective.
• Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the free-throw lane.
• A hit with the elbow.

Verb

• To push with the elbow or elbows; to forge ahead using the elbows to assist.
• To nudge, jostle or push.
• To make someone quit or lose their job so that someone else can get it.

Origin

• From Middle English elbowe, from Old English elboga, elnboga, 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, Danish albue ("elbow"), Icelandic olbogi, olnbogi.