knuckle
Americannoun
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a joint of a finger, especially one of the articulations of a metacarpal with a phalanx.
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the rounded prominence of such a joint when the finger is bent.
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a joint of meat, consisting of the parts about the carpal or tarsal joint of a quadruped.
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an angle or protrusion at the intersection of two members or surfaces, as in the timbers of a ship or in a roof.
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a cylindrical projecting part on a hinge, through which an axis or pin passes; the joint of a hinge.
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(in a wire mesh) a bend in a wire crossing another wire.
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(on a chair arm) one of the ridges left at the front end by longitudinal flutes carved to accommodate the fingers.
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Nautical. a pronounced edge formed by a change in the form of the shell of a hull.
verb (used with object)
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to rub or press with the knuckles.
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Marbles. to shoot (a marble) from the thumb and forefinger.
verb phrase
noun
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a joint of a finger, esp that connecting a finger to the hand
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a joint of veal, pork, etc, consisting of the part of the leg below the knee joint, often used in making stews or stock
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the cylindrical portion of a hinge through which the pin passes
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an angle joint between two members of a structure
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informal approaching indecency
verb
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(tr) to rub or press with the knuckles
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(intr) to keep the knuckles on the ground while shooting a marble
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has knuckledperfect 3rd person singular
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have knuckledperfect
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am knucklingprogressive 1st person singular
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is knucklingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are knucklingprogressive
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has been knucklingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been knucklingperfect progressive
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knucklingparticiple
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knucklessingular 3rd person
Past
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had knuckledperfect
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was knucklingprogressive singular
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were knucklingprogressive plural
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had been knucklingperfect progressive
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knuckledsimple
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knuckledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of knuckle
1325–75; Middle English knokel (akin to Dutch kneukel, German Knöchel ), diminutive of a word represented by Dutch knok, German Knochen bone; see -le
Explanation
Your knuckles are the joints in your fingers that are farthest from your fingernails. When you clench your hand into a fist, your knuckles are especially prominent. A knuckle is the part of your hand that makes it possible to move a finger freely, and if someone offers you a "knuckle sandwich," you should politely decline, since they're actually planning to make a fist and punch you in the mouth. To knuckle is to rub with the knuckles, like when you knuckle a bit of sand out of your eye. The root of knuckle is the Proto-Germanic knuk-, "bone."
Vocabulary lists containing knuckle
"LAFFF"
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As the popularity of items like theirs Knuckle Head Pumpkins reveals, Super Freak pumpkins are amazing jack-o'-lantern material.
From Salon • Oct. 30, 2022
His claim to fame is showing up in TikToks with Taylor Blake, a farmer at Knuckle Bump—often, interrupting her as she explains things about other animals.
From Slate • Oct. 19, 2022
Blake, whose family owns Knuckle Bump Farms in South Florida, said the farm lost more than 50 birds in three days — all but Emmanuel and Rico the swan.
From Washington Post • Oct. 16, 2022
Directed by Allan Ungar, from a screenplay by Kraig Wenman based on the novel by Robert Knuckle.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2022
With only one little Strand of Wire or perchance a Steering Knuckle standing between her and a lot of Insurance Money, she retained both her Aplomb and the Lorgnette.
From Knocking the Neighbors by Ade, George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
