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。
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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