elbow

1. (anatomy) The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.Examples: "Up to the elbowes naked were there Armes."; "Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics.""Synonyms: elbow joint

2. (by extension) Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, coastline, etc.; an angular or jointed part of any structure, such as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.Examples: "the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back"; "The water runs down with a strong, sharp stickle, and then has a sudden elbow in it, where the small brook trickles in; and on that side the bank is steep, four or it may be five feet high, overhanging loamily; […]"broadly

3. (US, dated, early 20th-century slang) A detective.Examples: ""An elbow, huh?" putting all the contempt he could in his voice; and somehow any synonym for detective seems able to hold a lot of contempt."USdated

4. (basketball) Part of a basketball court located at the intersection of the free-throw line and the free-throw lane.

5. (knots) Two nearby crossings of a rope.