elbow grease

2 definitions found

elbow grease - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Elbow \El"bow\, n. [AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga,
     OHG. elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. ?lnbogi; prop.;
     arm-bend); eln ell (orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st
     Ell, and 4th Bow.]
     1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the
        middle of the arm when bent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Her arms to the elbows naked.         --R. of
                                                    Gloucester.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall,
        building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast
        or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of
        any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a
        short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Arch.) A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or
        other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled
        work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an
        elbow with the window back. --Gwilt.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to
           denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow;
           as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom,
           elbow-room, or elbow room.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     At the elbow, very near; at hand.
  
     Elbow grease, energetic application of force in manual
        labor. [Low]
  
     Elbow in the hawse (Naut.), the twisting together of two
        cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by
        swinging completely round once. --Totten.
  
     Elbow scissors (Surg.), scissors bent in the blade or shank
        for convenience in cutting. --Knight.
  
     Out at elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby;
        in needy circumstances.
        [1913 Webster]

elbow grease - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  elbow grease
      n 1: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A
           for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion" [syn:
           effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat]