Wiktionary

akimbo

English edit

WOTD – 2 August 2009
 
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A woman with arms akimbo.

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English in kenebowe, in kene bowe (“in a keen bow”, i.e. “in a sharp bend or angle”), from in (“in”) + keen, kene (“brave, keen, sharp”) + bowe (“bow, bend”). Alternately, possibly from Old Norse kengr (“bent”) + bogi (“a bow”), compare Icelandic kengboginn (“bow-bent”).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

akimbo (not comparable)

  1. With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.
    • 1892 [January], A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. VII.—The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume III (January to June), number [13], London: George Newnes, Limited, […], page 80, column 1:
      "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now."
    • 1921, Lydia Clark, Physical Training for the Elementary Schools: Gymnastics, Games, and Rhythmic Plays, page 66:
      Girls take hold of the skirts; boys place the hands akimbo, bend forward from the waist, and bow.
    • 2004, Zirka Z. Filipczak, “Poses and Passions: Mona Lisa's 'Closely Folded' Hands”, in G K Paster et al., editors, Reading the Early Modern Passions: Essays in the Cultural History of Emotion, page 83:
      Men preferred one pose above all others, namely, the elbow akimbo.

Usage notes edit

  • Almost always used after the noun modified.

Translations edit

Adverb edit

akimbo (not comparable)

  1. Into, in, or of the position where the arms are akimbo.
    The man was standing akimbo.
    • 1903, Emily Constance Baird Cook, Highways and byways in London, page 430:
      Otherwise, it is likely that she may be accosted as "dear" or "Sally,"—invited to take "a drop o' tea," or otherwise chaffed by rough women standing akimbo at street doors.
    • 1978, Padma Upadhyaya, Female Images in the Museums of Uttar Pradesh, page 272:
      ...and the other end window bearing the figure of a woman standing akimbo with her right hand touching her right temple.
  2. Of weapons, especially firearms: one held in each hand.
    Although it was a little impractical, Elmer held his revolvers akimbo because to him it looked cool.

Related terms edit

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰewgʰ-‎ (0 c, 12 e)

Translations edit

Further reading edit

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