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Carpal Tunnel
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Even the Word Detective isn't sure: Dear Word Detective: I've heard the word "akimbo," but I never knew what it meant until someone said "legs akimbo," so I now know it means "spread apart." But where does "akimbo" come from? -- Ben, via the internet.
"Akimbo" is one of the strangest words in the English language, and seems almost to have been invented to mystify folks, especially children. I remember reading many stories as a child in which various characters were described as standing with their "arms akimbo," and being utterly clueless as to what the term meant. Of course, after a little while it dawned on me that I was growing up in a house awash in dictionaries and so I looked it up, but it still strikes me as a very odd word.
For those readers who still haven't figured out what the word means, the late John Ciardi gave a vivid definition of "akimbo": "With hands on hips and elbows sharply bent outwards, a body posture indicating impatience, hostility or contempt." One of the odd things about "akimbo" is that, strictly speaking, the word only applies to this "hands on hips" stance, although metaphorical uses are occasionally seen, such as "legs akimbo" or even "mind akimbo."
The origins of "akimbo" are a bit obscure, but it most likely comes from the Old Norse "i keng boginn," meaning "bent in a curve" (the Norse "bogi" is also the source of our "bow"). The phrase entered English around 1400 as "in kenebow," and then spent the next few hundred years mutating through forms such as "on kenbow," "a kimbow," "a kenbo" and "a-kimbo" until it finally arrived at its modern hyphenless "akimbo" form.
W.D.
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Thank you so much , Jackie. I'm really happy to know that at least one person in this world of words thinks the word is as special as I think it is. And that you took the trouble to let me know.
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Hmm...I can see where it might sound Asian; but to me it also sounds like it might be African. [so what? to the experts e] Oh--you're welcome! [hug]
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Not the experts (hm, this time), but the tenacious ones. You are right, I was looking the wrong direction.I called an African friend who said Akimbo is an African surname.Then googled the cache pages on akimbo up to five and found proof: Akimbo A boy's name. And four children's books about Akimbo. Thanks Jackie. Ends a silly search ( though not sillier than some)[hug]
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addict
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addict
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Hujambo. Ndio, it does sound like Kiswaihili. Kwa herini. 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Haya, tutaonana! 
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Mbote, Aramis, ndenge nini? Ozali malama?
Hello, Aramis, how do you do? are you OK?
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addict
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Habari yangu ni nzuri, Branny, starehe. Habari gani, Jackie?
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Ndenge nini? = habari gani?
Comment vas-tu?
Bazibaki nzela.
Ils barraient la route.
Jackie ni si hapa.
Jackie is not here.
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journeyman
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journeyman
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If you've ever come home late and drunk; (especially after you have just lost the mortgage at the race track) your spouse will certainly meet you at the head of the driveway with "arms akimbo".
If, however, you are perusing your newly planted garden as the sun is setting, and you rest your knuckles on your hips; you are "standing akimbo".
In amateur theatre, many actors stand akimbo because they do not know what else to do with their arms.
It's all about attitude.
Last edited by R. Eastcourt; 11/02/07 01:26 AM.
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