This word: akimbo, kept buzzing since a few weeks ago some people and I talked about it.We assumed at first that it had to do with Eastern martial arts. I thought it might be Finn's.But it proves to be of Skandinavian, Icelandic origin, And it is not clear whether it's only arms on hips ,or set in a bent position, legs involved. Sometimes it is referred to as standing the cowboy way
(high noon),two guns at hip heights.
Does one of the linguists know more of this word than the somewhat contradictory dictionaries give?

Webster:'s Online Dictionary:
Akimbo Adjective 1. (used of arms and legs) bent outward with the joint away from the body; "a tailor sitting with legs akimbo"; "stood with arms akimbo". Adverb 1. With hands on hips and elbows extending outward; "she stood there akimbo". Source: WordNet.
Date "akimbo" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1812.
Etymology unknown. Compare to Kimbo.]. (Websters 1913
Encarta:
a·kim·bo
adjective,
adverb Definition:
1. with hands on hips: with the hands on the hips and the elbows turned outward
2. arched: bent or arched
[14th century. Origin ?]
Merriam Webster:
akimbo
Etymology: Middle English in kenebowe
1 : having the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward
2 : set in a bent position <a tailor sitting with legs akimbo>
Online Ethymology:
akimbo c.1400, in kenebowe, perhaps from phrase in keen bow "at a sharp angle," or from a Scand. word akin to Icelandic kengboginn "bow-bent." Many languages use a teapot metaphor for this, such as Fr. faire le pot a deux anses "to play the pot with two handles."



Last edited by BranShea; 10/04/07 08:16 PM.