El"bow (?), n. [AS. elboga,
elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG. elinbogo, G.
ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. &?;lnbogi; prop.;
arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending.
See 1st Ell, and 4th Bow.] 1. The
joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm
when bent.
Her arms to the elbows naked.
R. of Gloucester.
2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow,
in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast
or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any
structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe
fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
3. (Arch.) A sharp angle in any
surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which
flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes
an elbow with the window back. Gwilt.
&fist; Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound,
to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an
elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or
elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or
elbow room.
At the elbow, very near; at hand. --
Elbow grease, energetic application of force in
manual labor. [Low] -- Elbow in the hawse
(Naut.), the twisting together of two cables by which a
vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round
once. Totten. -- Elbow scissors
(Surg.), scissors bent in the blade or shank for
convenience in cutting. Knight. -- Out at
elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in
needy circumstances.
El"bow, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Elbowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Elbowing.] To push or hit with the elbow, as when one
pushes by another.
They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen
off the Royal Exchange.
Macaulay.
To elbow one's way, to force one's way by
pushing with the elbows; as, to elbow one's way through a
crowd.
El"bow (?), v. i. 1.
To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of
an elbow.
2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's
way. "Purseproud, elbowing Insolence."
Grainger.
