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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Knuckle

Knŭck'le, n.

noun

(nŭk'l), n. [A.-S. cnuc, Dan. knokkel, D. knokkel, kneukel, O. Fries. knokele, knokle, L. Ger. knückel, N. H. Ger. knöchel, Sw. knoge, allied to Ger. knochen, bone.]

  1. The joint of a finger, particularly when made protuberant by the closing of the fingers.
  2. The knee-joint, especially of a calf; as, a knuckle of veal; — formerly used of human beings.

Thou, Nilus, wert assigned to stay her pains and travails past, To which, as soon as he came with much ado, at last With weary knuckles on thy brim she sadly kneeled down. Golding.

  1. The joint of a plant. [Obs.] Bacon.
  2. The joint pieces of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes.

Knŭck'le, v. i.

verbintransitive

(nŭk'/l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. KNUCKLED; p. pr. & vb. n. KNUCKLING.] To knock.

To knuckle to. (a.) To submit in a contest; to yield; — from the old custom of striking the under side of a table when defeated in argument. See KNOCK. (b.) To apply one's self vigorously.

Knŭck'le, v. t.

verbtransitive

(nŭk'l), v. t. To beat or strike with the knuckles.