akimbo
UK /əˈkɪm.bəʊ/ · US /əˈkɪm.boʊ/ adjective, adverb, verb
Forms akimbos akimboing akimboed akembo a kimbow kimbo
- adjective (of the arms) With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.
- adjective (of the legs) With legs spread and the knees bent in an outward or awkward way, sometimes with the feet touching.
- adverb Into, in, or of the position where the arms are akimbo. “The man was standing akimbo.”
- adverb Of weapons, especially firearms: one held in each hand. “Although it was a little impractical, Elmer held his revolvers akimbo because to him it looked cool.”
- verb (video games, slang, transitive) To wield (two weapons), one in each hand.
Etymology
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”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward. "With one arm akimbo." Irving.
Etymology [Etymology unknown. Cf. Kimbo.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “akimbo”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details