Akimbo

//əˈkɪm.bəʊ// adj, adv, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward. not-comparable

    ""Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now.""

  2. 2
    With legs spread and the knees bent in an outward or awkward way, sometimes with the feet touching. not-comparable
Adjective
  1. 1
    (used of arms and legs) bent outward with the joint away from the body wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    Into, in, or of the position where the arms are akimbo. not-comparable

    "The man was standing akimbo."

  2. 2
    Of weapons, especially firearms: one held in each hand. not-comparable

    "Although it was a little impractical, Elmer held his revolvers akimbo because to him it looked cool."

Adverb
  1. 1
    with hands on hips and elbows extending outward wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To wield (two weapons), one in each hand. slang, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

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”).

Etymology 3

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”).

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