[f. ELBOW sb. + ROOM.] Room to move one’s elbows; hence, freedom from constraint; space sufficient to move or work in at one’s ease. Also fig.
c. 1540. Boorde, The Boke for to Lerne, A ij b. He … whiche wyll dwell at pleasure … must dwell at elbowe rome.
1670. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 331. Give faith scope, give it elbow-room to work.
1758. Chesterf., Lett., No. 348 (1792), IV. 155. Which would give him more elbow-room, to act against France.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 5. 315. The improvement … in its [teaching] quality by the … elbow-room which the teacher would obtain.
