elbow

[ el-boh ]

noun

1. the bend or joint of the human arm between upper arm and forearm.
2. the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.
3. something bent like an elbow, as a sharp turn in a road or river, or a piece of pipe bent at an angle.
4. Architecture. crossette.
5. Also called ell, el. a plumbing pipe or pipe connection having a right-angled bend.

verb (used with object)

1. to push with or as if with the elbow; jostle.
2. to make (one's way) by so pushing.

verb (used without object)

1. to elbow one's way:

   He elbowed through the crowd.

elbow

/ ˈɛlbəʊ /

noun

1. the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, formed by the junction of the radius and ulna with the humerus
2. the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals
3. the part of a garment that covers the elbow
4. something resembling an elbow, such as a sharp bend in a road or river
5. at one's elbow
   within easy reach
6. out at elbow or out at elbows
   ragged or impoverished
7. up to the elbows with or up to the elbows in
   busily occupied with; deeply immersed in

verb

1. tr to reject; dismiss. Also: give the elbow
2. to make (one's way) by shoving, jostling, etc
3. tr to knock or shove with or as if with the elbow

Word History and Origins

Origin of elbow¹

before 1000; Middle English elbowe, Old English el ( n ) boga; cognate with Middle Dutch elle ( n ) bōghe, Old High German el ( l ) inbogo ( German Ellenbogen ), Old Norse ǫl ( n ) bogi; literally, “forearm-bend.” See ell ², bow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of elbow¹

Old English elnboga; see ell ², bow ²; related to Old Norse olbogi, Old High German elinbogo

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at one's elbow, within easy reach; nearby:

   A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.

2. bend / lift / crook an elbow, Informal. to drink alcoholic beverages.
3. give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.
4. out at the elbows, Also out at elbows.
   1. poorly dressed; shabby.
   2. impoverished.
5. rub elbows with, to mingle socially with; associate with:

   a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.

6. up to one's elbows, very busy; engrossed: Also up to the elbows.

   I am up to my elbows in answering mail.

More idioms and phrases containing elbow

• at someone's elbow
• crook one's elbow
• out at the elbows
• rub elbows with

Example Sentences

“Herbo = Allen Iverson confirmed,” Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko, who is on injured reserve with an elbow injury, posted about Herbert on X during the game.

From Los Angeles Times

Entering October, Ohtani was nearly ready to face hitters for the first time since his September 2023 elbow surgery.

From Los Angeles Times

Coming off his elbow surgery, the probable soon-to-be three-time MVP was probably going to be on a restricted workload next year anyway.

From Los Angeles Times

Tyler Glasnow recently told Foul Territory that his season-ending elbow injury is “pretty much healed.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Just kind of being around the ball like that and seeing it pop around from a knee to an elbow to a hand, it’s kind of just life changing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bulldoze
• bump
• hook
• hustle
• knock
• nudge
• shove