Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “elbowful” come from?

elbowful (English) comes from English elbow, from Middle English elbowe, from Old English elnboga, from Proto-Germanic alinabugô, from Proto-Germanic bugô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰugʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ- — to bend; curve, arch.

elbowful (English): As much as can be held in the crook of one's...

Definitions

  1. As much as can be held in the crook of one's...

Ancestry of “elbowful”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishelbowThe joint between the upper arm and the forearm;...
2Middle Englishelboweelbow; A tassel suspended from the elbow
3Old Englishelnbogaelbow
4Proto-Germanicalinabugôelbow
5Proto-Germanicbugôbow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰugʰ-bow; arch
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰewgʰ-to bend; curve, arch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ- →