Elbow Means the Bend of the Ell
The elbow is the joint of the arm. Its name combines an old unit of length with the word for a bend.
The elbow is the joint between the upper and lower arm. Its name is a compound of two old words: *ell*, a unit of length based on the forearm, and *bow*, meaning a bend. The elbow is the bend of the ell — the point where the measuring arm folds. *Elbow grease*, meaning hard physical effort, is recorded from the 1600s and has never referred to any actual substance.
- The arm joint. *He hurt his elbow.*
- To push with the elbow. *She elbowed past.*
- A sharp bend in a pipe. *An elbow joint.*
- Elbow grease — hard effort. *Some elbow grease.*
- Elbow room — space to move. *Give me elbow room.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | elbow | A sore elbow. |
| Plural | elbows | Both elbows. |
| Verb | elbow | Elbow through. |
| Compound | elbow room | Elbow room. |
| Old English | elnboga | Ell-bend. |
- He rested his elbows on the table.Anatomy.
- She elbowed her way to the front.Verb.
- It just needs elbow grease.Idiom.
Body measurements that became units
- Ell — about 45 inches, from the forearm
- Foot — from the length of a foot
- Cubit — elbow to fingertip, used across the ancient world
- Hand — four inches, still used for horses
- Fathom — the span of outstretched arms, about six feet
Old English *elnboga*, from *eln*, an ell or forearm, plus *boga*, a bow or bend.
What is elbow grease?
Hard physical effort, especially in cleaning or polishing. It is a joke: no such substance exists.
What was an ell?
An old unit of length based on the forearm, standardised in England at about 45 inches for measuring cloth.