English Explanatory Dictionary

akimbo

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.
  2. With legs spread and the knees bent in an outward or awkward way, sometimes with the feet touching.
adv
  1. Into, in, or of the position where the arms are akimbo.
  2. Of weapons, especially firearms: one held in each hand.
verb
  1. To wield (two weapons), one in each hand.

Pronunciation

/əˈkɪm.bəʊ/ /əˈkɪm.boʊ/ en-us-akimbo.ogg

Word forms

akimbo akembo a kimbow kimbo akimbos akimboing akimboed

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”).

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