Adjacent Words

Knuckle definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

KNUCK'LE, n. 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, v.i. nuk'l. To yield; to submit in contest to an antagonist.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a joint of a finger when the fist is closed [syn: knuckle, knuckle joint, metacarpophalangeal joint] v
1: press or rub with the knuckles
2: shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English knokel; akin to Middle High German knöchel knuckle Date: 14th century 1. a. the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint — used especially of those at the joints of the fingers b. the joint of a knuckle 2. a cut of meat consisting of the tarsal or carpal joint with the adjoining flesh 3. something resembling a knuckle: as a. (1) one of the joining parts of a hinge through which a pin or rivet passes (2) knuckle joint b. the meeting of two surfaces at a sharp angle (as in a roof) c. a pivotal point 4. plural a set of metal finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use as a weapon — called also brass knuckles • knuckled adjective II. verb (knuckled; knuckling) Date: 1740 intransitive verb to place the knuckles on the ground in shooting a marble transitive verb to press or rub with the knuckles

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the bone at a finger-joint, esp. that adjoining the hand. 2 a a projection of the carpal or tarsal joint of a quadruped. b a joint of meat consisting of this with the adjoining parts, esp. of bacon or pork. --v.tr. strike, press, or rub with the knuckles. Phrases and idioms: go the knuckle Austral. sl. fight, punch. knuckle-bone 1 bone forming a knuckle. 2 the bone of a sheep or other animal corresponding to or resembling a knuckle. 3 a knuckle of meat. knuckle-bones 1 animal knuckle-bones used in the game of jacks. 2 the game of jacks. knuckle down (often foll. by to) 1 apply oneself seriously (to a task etc.). 2 (also knuckle under) give in; submit. knuckle sandwich sl. a punch in the mouth. rap on (or over) the knuckles see RAP(1). Derivatives: knuckly adj. Etymology: ME knokel f. MLG, MDu. knökel, dimin. of knoke bone

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Knuckle Knuc"kle, v. 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, v. i. (b) To apply one's self vigorously or earnestly to; as, to knuckle to work. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Knuckle Knuc"kle, n. [OE. knokel, knokil, AS. cuncel; akin to D. knokkel, OFries. knokele, knokle, G. kn["o]chel, 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 pars 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; as, brass knuckles; -- called also knuckle duster. [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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Knuckle Knuc"kle, v. t. To beat with the knuckles; to pommel. [R.] --Horace Smith.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(knuckles, knuckling, knuckled) Your knuckles are the rounded pieces of bone that form lumps on your hands where your fingers join your hands, and where your fingers bend. Brenda's knuckles were white as she gripped the arms of the chair. a rap on the knuckles: see rap N-COUNT: usu pl, oft poss N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. n. Yield (obsequiously), submit, cringe, stoop, crouch, give up, knock under.

Moby Thesaurus

Chateaubriand, ankle, articulation, blade roast, boundary, bow, breast, brisket, butt, capitulate, cave, cervix, chuck, chuck roast, clinch, clod, closure, cold cuts, connecting link, connecting rod, connection, coupling, defer, dovetail, elbow, embrace, filet mignon, flank, gliding joint, hinge, hinged joint, hip, interface, join, joining, joint, juncture, knee, knuckle under, link, loin, miter, mortise, neck, pivot, pivot joint, plate, plate piece, pot roast, rabbet, rack, rib roast, ribs, roast, rolled roast, round, rump, rump roast, saddle, scarf, seam, shank, short ribs, shoulder, shoulder clod, sirloin, stitch, submit, succumb, suture, symphysis, tenderloin, tie rod, toggle, toggle joint, union, weld, wrist