elbow

来自ell和bow的组合词。

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 *alinā ‘forearm’ 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’.
=> bow, ell, ulna

elbow (n.)

"bend of the arm," c. 1200, elbowe, from a contraction of Old English elnboga "elbow," from Proto-Germanic *elino-bugon, literally "bend of the forearm" (cognates: Middle Dutch ellenboghe, Dutch elleboog, Old High German elinbogo, German Ellenboge, Old Norse ölnbogi). For first element, see ell (n.1) "length of the forearm;" second element represented by Old English boga "bow, arch" (see bow (n.1)).

Second element related to Old English bugan "to bend" (see bow (v.)); first element from *alina "arm," from PIE *el- (1) "elbow, forearm" (see ell (n.1)). To be out at elbows (1620s) was literally to have holes in one's coat. Phrase elbow grease "hard rubbing" is attested from 1670s, from jocular sense of "the best substance for polishing furniture." Elbow-room, "room to extend one's elbows," hence, "ample room for activity," attested 1530s.

elbow (v.)

"thrust with the elbow," c. 1600, from elbow (n.). Figurative sense is from 1863. Related: Elbowed; elbowing.

1. When you are sitting, keep your elbow on the arm rest.

坐立时，把胳膊肘靠在扶手上。

2. There was not much elbow room in the cockpit of a Snipe.

“沙锥鸟”战斗机的驾驶舱空间不太宽敞。

3. He lay beside her awkwardly, propped on an elbow.

他用一只胳膊肘支着身体，别扭地躺在她旁边。

4. Non-state firms gradually elbow aside the inefficient state-owned ones.

非国有企业逐渐挤掉了效率低下的国有企业。

5. I placed his drink on the small table at his elbow.

我把他的饮料放在他肘边的小桌子上。