English Dictionary: elbow grease | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for elbow grease | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Elbow \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. Note: 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. |