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Webster 1913 Edition

Knuckle

Knuc′kle

,
Noun.
[OE.
knokel
,
knokil
, AS.
cuncel
; akin to D.
knokkel
, OFries.
knokele
,
knokle
, G.
knöchel
, Sw.
knoge
, Dan.
knokkel
, G.
knochen
bone, and perh. to E.
knock
.]
1.
The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers.
Davenant.
2.
The kneejoint, or middle joint, of either leg of a quadruped, especially of a calf; – formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being.
With weary
knuckles
on thy brim she kneeled sadly down.
Golding.
3.
The joint of a plant.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
4.
(Mech.)
The joining parts of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint.
5.
(Shipbuilding)
A convex portion of a vessel’s figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.
6.
A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; – called also
knuckle duster
,
knuckles
or
brass knuckles
.
[Slang.]
Knuckle joint
(Mach.)
,
a hinge joint, in which a projection with an eye, on one piece, enters a jaw between two corresponding projections with eyes, on another piece, and is retained by a pin which passes through the eyes and forms the pivot.
–
Knuckle of veal
(Cookery)
,
the lower part of a leg of veal, from the line of the body to the knuckle.

Knuc′kle

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Knuckled
;;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Knuckling
.]
To yield; to submit; – used with
down
,
to
, or
under
.
To knuckle to
.
(a)
To submit to in a contest; to yield to.
[Colloq.]
See
To knock under
, under
Knock
,
Verb.
I.
(b)
To apply one's self vigorously or earnestly to;
as,
to knuckle to
work.
[Colloq.]

Knuc′kle

,
Verb.
T.
To beat with the knuckles; to pummel.
[R.]
Horace Smith.

Webster 1828 Edition

Knuckle

KNUCK'LE

,
Noun.
nuk'l.
1.
The joint of a finger, particularly when protuberant by the closing of the fingers.
2.
The knee join of a calf; as a knuckle of veal.
3.
The joint of a plant. [Not used.]

KNUCK'LE

,
Verb.
I.
nuk'l. To yield; to submit in contest to an antagonist.

Definition 2024

knuckle

knuckle

English

Noun

knuckle ‎(plural knuckles)

  1. Any of the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.
  2. (by extension) A mechanical joint.
  3. A cut of meat.
  4. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) The curved part of the cushion at the entrance to the pockets on a cue sports table.
  5. The kneejoint of a quadruped, especially of a calf; formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being.
    • Golding
      With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down.
  6. (obsolete) The joint of a plant.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  7. (shipbuilding) A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.
  8. A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; a knuckle duster.
    brass knuckles

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

knuckle ‎(third-person singular simple present knuckles, present participle knuckling, simple past and past participle knuckled)

  1. To apply pressure, or rub or massage with one's knuckles.
    He knuckled the sleep from his eyes.

Etymology

From Middle English knokel ‎(“finger joint”), not attested in Old English, likely from Proto-Germanic *knukilaz ‎(“knuckle, knot, bump”), as *knukô ‎(“bone, joint”) +‎ *-ilaz ‎(diminutive suffix). Cognate with Dutch knokkel ‎(“knuckle”), Low German Knökel ‎(“knuckle”), German Knöchel ‎(“ankle, knuckle”), Old Norse knykill.

Knuckles (def. 1) of a human hand, circled in red
Roast knuckle (def. 3) from Schweizerhaus, Vienna

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnʌkəl/
  • Rhymes: -ʌkəl

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