dumbbell
a weight for muscle training
TRANSLATION
dumbbell = die Hantel --- GOOGLE INDEX dumbbell: approximately 2,200,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
They used DUMBBELLS to try to strengthen muscles around the neck.
(BBC News)
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A husband who ended up in hospital with his wife's lover after he attacked him with a DUMBBELL has been spared jail.
(BBC News)
(BBC News)
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A husband who ended up in hospital with his wife's lover after he attacked him with a DUMBBELL has been spared jail.
(BBC News)
Did you
know?
dumbbell
noun
- a short bar with a weight on each end that you lift up and down to strengthen your arm and shoulder muscles
- slang and derogatory for a stupid person
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2009)
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WORD ORIGIN
A dumbbell (also barbell) is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It is referred to as a "free weight" and is usually held in one hand. The word dumbbell is alleged to have originated in Tudor England. At this time athletes used hand-held church bells to develop the upper body and arm muscles.
These bells ranged in weight from a few ounces to many pounds. They were moved around in various ways, thus making a great deal of noise. To combat this, the clappers were taken out in order to silence the bells. This gave rise to the name dumbbell (dumb means unable to make sound).
A chain of London fitness centres offers "human dumbbells" to add interest to the otherwise boring workouts. The company says members of the gym can replace the metal dumbbells with real people. The "human weightlifting apparatus" is constructed such that a person sits on the equipment facing the fitness enthusiast, who is required to then lift the weight of the human dumbbell. A choice of weights is offered including a 66-pound dwarf and a 320-pound giant.
(source: BBC News)
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"I keep a dumbbell under my desk to keep fit in spare moments."
noun
- a short bar with a weight on each end that you lift up and down to strengthen your arm and shoulder muscles
- slang and derogatory for a stupid person
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2009)
---
WORD ORIGIN
A dumbbell (also barbell) is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It is referred to as a "free weight" and is usually held in one hand. The word dumbbell is alleged to have originated in Tudor England. At this time athletes used hand-held church bells to develop the upper body and arm muscles.
These bells ranged in weight from a few ounces to many pounds. They were moved around in various ways, thus making a great deal of noise. To combat this, the clappers were taken out in order to silence the bells. This gave rise to the name dumbbell (dumb means unable to make sound).
A chain of London fitness centres offers "human dumbbells" to add interest to the otherwise boring workouts. The company says members of the gym can replace the metal dumbbells with real people. The "human weightlifting apparatus" is constructed such that a person sits on the equipment facing the fitness enthusiast, who is required to then lift the weight of the human dumbbell. A choice of weights is offered including a 66-pound dwarf and a 320-pound giant.
(source: BBC News)
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"I keep a dumbbell under my desk to keep fit in spare moments."
