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单词 akimbo
释义

akimboadv.adj.

Brit. /əˈkɪmbəʊ/, U.S. /əˈkɪmboʊ/
Forms: late Middle English in kenebowe, 1500s–1600s a kenbow, 1500s–1600s on kenbow, 1600s a canne-bow, 1600s a gambo, 1600s a kemboll, 1600s a kenbol, 1600s a-kenbold, 1600s a-kimbow, 1600s on kimbow, 1600s–1700s a-kemboll, 1600s–1800s a kembo, 1600s–1800s a kimbo, 1600s– a-kimbo, 1600s– akimbo, 1700s a-kembo, 1700s a kimbow, 1800s a' kimbo.
Origin: Of uncertain origin.
Etymology: Apparently originating as an adverbial phrase in in prep. or on prep. (subsequently reduced to a prep.1: see discussion at that entry), although the identity of other words in the phrase is uncertain and disputed.It has been argued that in kenebowe in quot. c1460 at sense A. 1a shows a compound of can n.1 or a word with a similar sense (perhaps an otherwise unattested borrowing of Anglo-Norman chaene , chenne , Middle French quenne , variants of Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French chane , cane flagon, pitcher: see canette n.) and bow n.1 in the sense ‘handle’ (compare bow n.1 11 and also the related boul n. 2, bail n.2 2), with the sense ‘jug handle’ or ‘pot handle’. The resulting construction would then have parallels in several other languages in expressions where the stance of person with hands on hips is described in terms of a resemblance to a jug or pot with two handles: compare e.g. classical Latin ansātus ansate adj. (designating a man strutting in a proud and lordly manner in Plautus's Persa), Middle French, French faire la pot à deux anses to stand with the hands on the hips (1552), les bras courbez en anse (1611 in Cotgrave), and perhaps also early modern Dutch het metalen potteken met twee ooren maken (1562), Koperen pot (1620 in Kiliaan), German †einen Henkeltopf machen (late 18th cent. or earlier), although the latter group is attested in glosses on the Latin or French expressions, and it is unclear how far individual instances represent attempts to explain those expressions rather than established idioms in Dutch and German. The absence of both spellings in -e- for can n.1 and independent evidence for borrowing of the French word for the vessel into English cast doubt on this theory, as does the fact that bow n.1 does not appear to be attested in the sense ‘handle’ until considerably later than the present word. Compare later kimbo adj. designating a kind of bowl handle, although this use is likely to arise from reanalysis of the present word in the light of glosses on ansa handle (see ansa n.) and related words in 17th-cent. dictionaries of Latin (compare quot. 1565 at sense A. 1a). The 17th-cent. form a canne-bow is also likely to reflect folk-etymological reanalysis. Alternatively, it has been widely argued that this word reflects borrowing of an early Scandinavian phrase of which a reflex would be Old Icelandic í keng boginn , lit. ‘bent into a curve or bow’ (compare kengr a bend, bow, hook and boginn bent, bowed, curved: see bow v.1), although there is no evidence in Old Icelandic for the use of this construction in the specific sense shown by the English adverb. Another explanation for in kenebowe invokes keen adj. and bow n.1, with allusion to the acute angle of the sharply bent elbows (compare elbow n.), although it has been objected that this sense of keen adj. would be unusual in Middle English, where it overwhelmingly designates objects that are able to cut or pierce, such as weapons. Etymologies from cam adj. and cammock n.2 have also been suggested, but both are untenable on phonological grounds.
A. adv.
1.
a. With hands on hips and elbows turned outwards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > arm > [adverb] > positions of
akimboc1460
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 1838 (MED) The hoost..set his hond in kenebowe.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Ansatus Hauyng a handle. Ansatus homo. Plaut., a man with his armes on kenbow.
1594 tr. A. Arnauld Arrainm. Whole Soc. Iesuits in France f. 18 The Spaniardes march vp and downe in those faire and large streetes, their armes a kenbow [Fr. les mains en arcade sur les costez].
1634 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman (new ed.) v. xx. 247 The armes of two side-men on kenbow.
1652 T. Urquhart Εκσκυβαλαυρον 109 With gingling spurrs, and his armes a kenbol.
1678 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer (ed. 2) ii. i. 23 He has no use of his Arms, but to set 'em on kimbow.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses x. 47 John was forced to sit with his Arms a-kimbo.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. ii. iii. 182 Putting his arms a-kembo with an air of defiance.
1832 New Monthly Mag. 34 356 Accordingly Criticism put on the bully and stalked forth akimbo, like the Captain Fierce of a brothel.
1865 A. D. Whitney Gayworthys 321 A great grocer's boy, with big boots, and clumsy elbows set akimbo.
1928 J. Galsworthy Swan Song ii. iv, in Mod. Comedy (1929) 629 The lady put her arms akimbo.
1971 D. Du Maurier Don't look Now (U.S. ed.) 137 A stumping jog-trot, arms akimbo, his chest thrust forward.
2007 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 31 Jan. Most people have an alarming mental image of Henry VIII standing with arms akimbo, feet wide spread.
b. With reference to (other) limbs, esp. the legs: spread or flung out widely or haphazardly.
ΚΠ
1833 Atkinson's Casket Feb. 69/2 The tailor sat on the bench, with his legs akimbo.
1892 World (N.Y.) 14 Sept. 10/3 He dances with knees akimbo and spins with untold agility.
1911 O. Johnson Tennessee Shad iv. 89 The Tennessee Shad stood, legs akimbo, gazing into the fire.
1977 M. Zolotow Billy Wilder in Hollywood i. 27 The Redakteur was making violent love to his secretary who was sprawled, limbs akimbo on a sofa.
2004 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 25 July Getting off the chair for the next run, an Australian woman..clips a ski on the bloke next to her and falls legs akimbo.
2. More generally: askew, awry; in disorder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [adverb] > off the direct line > obliquely
asidec1369
aslanta1400
slant1495
obliquely1503
asklenta1540
askew1565
slantingly1570
slantwise1573
wry1575
bias?1578
askance1590
askant1602
slantinga1625
asquint1645
across1700
slantly1719
akimboc1796
slantways1828
aslantwise1852
slantingways1899
c1796 C. Dibdin in Songster's Compan. (ed. 9) 203 In life's voyage, should you trust a false friend with the helm, The top lifts of his heart all akimbo, A tempest of treachery your bark will o'erwhem.
1880 T. W. Reid Politicians of To-day II. 253 They do not wear their hats akimbo.
1898 Jrnl. Brit. Dental Assoc. 15 Jan. 27 The springs are apt to be set akimbo by leaving this procedure till the work is completed.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xv. [Circe] 495 The fan (Folded akimbo against her waist).
2004 Asiana Autumn 131/1 We all fell in love with his character Fred Fonseca in Eastenders despite that horrendous 70s foppish mop of hair with curtains akimbo.
B. adj.
Crooked, bent, or askew; that is in disorder, awry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adjective] > askew
obliquate?a1425
cama1600
ajee1816
askew1831
skew-whiff1839
splay1873
catawampous1885
skewgee1890
cockeye1891
boss-eyed1898
skewy1898
cockeyed1899
squiffy1941
akimbo1943
1943 I. Brown Just Another Word 24 ‘She got terribly akimbo’ became a species of Mayfair slang for what was earlier called ‘high horse’. I have also heard it used by stage people for over-acting. ‘So and so was a bit akimbo to-night.’
1959 New Yorker 5 Dec. 146 He tended to match all of Coleman's near-atonal plunges with akimbo melodic lines of his own.
2002 Esquire Sept. 80/1 He is still blue, with mitteny hands and startled, akimbo eyebrows.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.c1460
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