elbow /ˈelboʊ/

n. 肘,肘部;弯处,肘状物

from a contraction of Old English elnboga "elbow," literally "bend of the forearm"

ell是英国旧时量布的长度单位,对织布工来说,从肘到中指尖的长度即为- ell。表示“一胳臂长”,相当于大约 45 英寸或 115 厘米。英语谚语Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.(得寸进尺)中的ell正是用于此义。

rainbow单词记忆(单词学习-elbow)(1)

织布工 weaver

现用以表示“肘”的elbow 一词源自古英语elnboga,由eln "length of lower arm "加boga "bow "(弯曲部分)组成,而实际上系由ell和bow二词复合而成。

例句:

She poked her elbow into his ribs.

她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。

He slipped and fell, badly bruising an elbow.

他滑倒了,严重挫伤了一只胳膊肘。

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