knuckle

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnʌkəl/

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.

   • With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down.

6. (obsolete) The joint of a plant.
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

9. (skiing, snowboarding) The rounded point where a flat changes to a slope on a piste.

Translations

• French: articulation du doigt, articulation, jointure du doigt
• German: Fingerknöchel
• Italian: nocca, giuntura
• Portuguese: nó, junta dos dedos
• Russian: суста́в па́льца
• Spanish: nudillo

Verb

knuckle (knuckles, present participle knuckling; past and past participle knuckled)

1. (transitive) To apply pressure, or rub or massage with one's knuckles.

   He knuckled the sleep from his eyes.

2. (intransitive) To bend the fingers.
3. (intransitive) To touch one's forehead as a mark of respect.
4. (intransitive, figurative) To yield.

   Synonyms: knuckle under

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