limber

¹

[ lim-ber ]

adjective

1. characterized by ease in bending the body; supple; lithe.

   Antonyms: stiff

2. bending readily; flexible; pliant.

   Synonyms: pliable

   Antonyms: unbending, rigid, stiff

verb (used without object)

1. to make oneself limber (usually followed by up ):

   to limber up before the game.

verb (used with object)

1. to make (something) limber (usually followed by up ):

   She tried to limber up her wits before the exam.

limber

²

[ lim-ber ]

noun

1. a two-wheeled vehicle, originally pulled by four or six horses, behind which is towed a field gun or caisson.

verb (used with object)

1. to attach the limber to (a gun) in preparation for moving away (sometimes followed by up ).

verb (used without object)

1. to attach a limber to a gun (usually followed by up ).

limber

³

[ lim-ber ]

noun

1. Usually limbers. Nautical. a passage or gutter in which seepage collects to be pumped away, located on each side of a central keelson; bilge.

limber

¹

/ ˈlɪmbə /

noun

1. often plural nautical (in the bilge of a vessel) a fore-and-aft channel through a series of holes in the frames ( limber holes ) where water collects and can be pumped out

limber

²

/ ˈlɪmbə /

adjective

1. capable of being easily bent or flexed; pliant
2. able to move or bend freely; agile

limber

³

/ ˈlɪmbə /

noun

1. part of a gun carriage, often containing ammunition, consisting of an axle, pole, and two wheels, that is attached to the rear of an item of equipment, esp field artillery

verb

1. usually foll by up to attach the limber (to a gun, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈlimberness, noun
• ˈlimberly, adverb

Other Words From

• limber·ly adverb
• limber·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of limber¹

First recorded in 1555–65; of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to limb ¹

Origin of limber²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English limour, lemer “cart shaft”; limb ¹, -er ¹

Origin of limber³

First recorded in 1620–30; of uncertain origin; perhaps from French lumière “hole, perforation,” literally, “light,” from Late Latin lūmināria; luminaria

Word History and Origins

Origin of limber¹

C17: probably changed from French lumière hole (literally: light)

Origin of limber²

C16: origin uncertain

Origin of limber³

C15 lymour shaft of a gun carriage, origin uncertain

Synonym Study

See flexible.

Example Sentences

Are they minor missteps of people limbering up for greatness as they get used to the job?

From BBC

After that whirlwind of peculiar chambers and treatments, I wondered if my ailing shoulder even felt a tad more limber.

From Los Angeles Times

But the aged rodents in the lab of molecular biologist Shin-Ichiro Imai at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis sported tails that were limber and nearly straight.

From Science Magazine

“The roads and fields were strewn with dead Germans, horses, masses of artillery, transport, ammunition limbers, helmets, guns and bayonets,” Private Rush Young recalled.

From Literature

To get your Q&A muscles limbered up in preparation, sign up for our Essential California newsletter, and you’ll find a link to the quiz of the week at the bottom of each Saturday’s newsletter.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agile
• graceful
• lithe
• nimble
• pliable
• resilient
• spry
• supple