• n. 肢，臂；分支；枝干
• vt. 切断…的手足；从…上截下树枝
• n. (Limb)人名；(朝)林；(英)利姆

来自古英语lim,肢，翼，树枝，来自PIE*lei,变，转，词源同leg,进一步来自PIE*skel,弯，转，词源同scoliosis,isosceles.

limb

limb: [OE] The Old English word for ‘limb’ was lim. Like thumb, it later (in the 16th century) acquired an intrusive b, which has long since ceased to be pronounced. It has cognates in Swedish and Danish lem, and Dutch lid ‘limb’ is probably related too.

limb (n.1)

"part or member," Old English lim "limb, joint, main branch of a tree," from Proto-Germanic *limu- (cognates: Old Norse limr "limb," lim "small branch of a tree"), a variant of *liþu- (source of Old English liþ, Old Frisian lith, Old Norse liðr, Gothic liþus "a limb;" and with prefix ga-, source of German Glied "limb, member"), from PIE root *lei- "to bend, be movable, be nimble." The parasitic -b began to appear late 1500s for no etymological reason (perhaps by influence of limb (n.2)). In Old and Middle English, and until lately in dialects, it could mean "any visible body part."

The lymmes of generacion were shewed manyfestly. [Caxton, "The subtyl historyes and fables of Esope, Auyan, Alfonce, and Poge," 1484]

Hence, limb-lifter "fornicator" (1570s). To go out on a limb in figurative sense "enter a risky situation" is from 1897. Life and limb in reference to the body inclusively is from c. 1200.

limb (n.2)

late 14c., "edge of a quadrant or other instrument," from Latin limbus "border, hem, fringe, edge," of uncertain origin. Klein suggests cognate with Sanskrit lambate "hangs down," and English limp. But Tucker writes that "the sense appears to be that of something which twists, goes round, or binds ... not of something which hangs loose," and suggests cognates in Lithuanian linta "ribbon," Old Norse linnr "whether." Astronomical sense of "edge of the disk of a heavenly body" first attested 1670s.

1. Try to rest the injured limb as much as possible.

尽量不要活动受伤的手臂。

来自柯林斯例句

2. She sat on a limb of the tree and looked down.

她坐在一根大树枝上往下看.

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. His refusal to agree left him out on a limb.

他拒不表示同意,致使自己处于孤立地位.

来自《简明英汉词典》

4. I risked life and limb to get here on time.

我冒着生命危险准时赶到这里.

来自《简明英汉词典》

5. We tear the enemies limb from limb.

我们猛击敌人.

来自《简明英汉词典》