Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

akimbo

/əˈkɪm.boʊ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.08 in modern English

Syllables: akim-bo
IPA: /əˈkɪm.boʊ/

14

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.

adj

With legs spread and the knees bent in an outward or awkward way, sometimes with the feet touching.

adv

Into, in, or of the position where the arms are akimbo.

adv

Of weapons, especially firearms: one held in each hand.

verb

To wield (two weapons), one in each hand.

Slang; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

""Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now.""
"Girls take hold of the skirts; boys place the hands akimbo, bend forward from the waist, and bow."
"She was now standing arms akimbo, her shoulders drooping a little, her head cocked to one side, her glasses winking in the sunlight. We knew she wore a grin of the uttermost wickedness."
"Men preferred one pose above all others, namely, the elbow akimbo."
"The man was standing akimbo."
"Otherwise, it is likely that she may be accosted as "dear" or "Sally,"—invited to take "a drop o' tea," or otherwise chaffed by rough women standing akimbo at street doors."

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”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰewgʰ-, in kene bowe, kengr

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈkɪm.boʊ/
British English: /əˈkɪm.bəʊ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

akembo (alternative) a kimbow (alternative) kimbo (alternative) akimbos (present, singular) akimboing (participle, present) akimboed (participle, past) akimboed (past)

Rhymes With

limbo bimbo jimbo himbo dimbo mimbo

Questions

How do you pronounce akimbo?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈkɪm.boʊ/.
What does akimbo mean?: With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.
Where does akimbo come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce akimbo

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “akimbo”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈkɪm.boʊ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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