elbow

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.

   • Up to the elbowes naked were there Armes.
2. 2

   Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, coastline, etc.

   Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, coastline, etc.; an angular or jointed part of any structure, such as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.

   • the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back
   • The water runs down with a strong, sharp stickle, and then has a sudden elbow in it, where the small brook trickles in; and on that side the bank is steep, four or it may be five feet high, overhanging loamily; […]
3. 3

   A detective.

   • "An elbow, huh?" putting all the contempt he could in his voice; and somehow any synonym for detective seems able to hold a lot of contempt.
4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the…

      Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the free-throw lane.

   2. 5

      A hit, strike, or blow with the elbow.

      • In the fair dinkum department that elbow prop Barrie McDermott threw into the face of Paul Sironen deserved to get him four months on the side-lines[.]
      • England ran Tunisia ragged in that spell but were punished for missing a host of chances when Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot against the run of play after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.
   3. 6

      Two nearby crossings of a rope.

   4. 7

      To push with the elbow or elbows

      To push with the elbow or elbows; to forge ahead using the elbows to assist.

      • He elbowed his way through the crowd.
      • Through the crush Malone and Roxton elbowed their way until they reached Challenger's side, and partly by judicious propulsion, partly by artful persuasion, they got him, still bellowing his grievances, out of the building.
      • On the DLR, or on the driverless Line 14 on the Paris Metro, I always try to sit at the front. (It's usually just a matter of elbowing aside some ten-year-old boys; I can then get on with pretending to drive the train.)
   5. 8

      To strike with the elbow.

      • Trumper elbowed me in the ribs and made a sign with his head. He seemed irritated now by our delay.
      • She looked round for Vera, but could not see her, and in the process of wriggling through the heaving crowd was elbowed in the eye. The blow acted like a spur, putting one thought in her head … to escape.
   6. 9

      To nudge, jostle or push.

      • Suddenly and with all her heart Kate longed to be home, back at the homestead, to participate in the rambunctious toss and jostle as breakup elbowed its way into the Park.
   7. 10

      To force (someone) to quit or lose their job so that someone else can be hired.

      • The president was elbowed out of power by members of her own party.

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