elbow

/ˈelˌbəʊ/EL-boh

/ˈɛlˌboʊ/EL-boh

Meaningarm-bend

Common meaning: the joint where the arm bends

elbowforearm + bow, bendSkeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), p. 186 · scan

Journey through time

Old Englishelboga‘elbow’source B&T
Middle Englishelbowesource
Englishelbow‘the joint where the arm bends’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Old English eln + boga ‘forearm + bow, bend’.

Roots

eln + boga Old English “forearm + bow, bend”

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