knuckle
Americannoun
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knuckles
plural
-
a joint of a finger, especially one of the articulations of a metacarpal with a phalanx.
-
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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knuckles,
present (3rd person singular)
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knuckled,
past participle, past
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knuckling
present participle
-
to rub or press with the knuckles.
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Marbles. to shoot (a marble) from the thumb and forefinger.
verb phrase
noun
-
a joint of a finger, esp that connecting a finger to the hand
-
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
-
informal approaching indecency
verb
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(tr) to rub or press with the knuckles
-
(intr) to keep the knuckles on the ground while shooting a marble
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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knucklesimple
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knucklessimple
-
have knuckledperfect
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has knuckledperfect
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am knucklingprogressive
-
are knucklingprogressive
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is knucklingprogressive
-
have been knucklingperfect progressive
-
has been knucklingperfect progressive
Past
-
knuckledsimple
-
had knuckledperfect
-
was knucklingprogressive
-
were knucklingprogressive
-
had been knucklingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Then Rushing again ambushed the first pitch — a knuckle curve on the inside edge — and drove it off the right-field wall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Then again, who among us hasn’t requested a parade of knuckle sandwiches with our cake and candles?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
This kit includes everything you need to make eight luxurious rolls: two pounds of Maine knuckle and claw meat, eight open-top buns, a half-pint of lemony mayo, and the butter to toast the rolls in.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025
"So when my knuckle is away from the body, I'm not anchoring or touching any part of my body and I know I'm within the rules."
From BBC ● May 27, 2025
Martin stares into space, grinding his knuckle into his cheek.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
For me, among so many other things, I enjoy without measure watching great reporters crack their knuckles and create a saga where once stood a blinking cursor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
But they can try to make sense of what just passed, starting with a primary season that was a strange mix of ennui and white knuckles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
Deulofeu squeezes each hand into a fist and crunches his knuckles together to replicate his right knee.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
“Fingers bruised from lifting boxes on the warehouse floor, palms calloused from delivery bike handlebars, knuckles scarred with kitchen burns: These are not hands that have been allowed to hold power,” he said.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2025
Instead, he pulls his hands out of his pockets and cracks his knuckles.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
They did so, as Smith and Lawrence knuckled down to add 105 from 31 overs in the morning session.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2026
Yet, when faced with adversity, Adams never knuckled up for any fights on principle, choosing only to take the easiest and most comfortable way out.
From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2025
Boyd scored midway through the first period, beating Stalock on a shot from the right circle that knuckled off Chicago defenseman Ian Mitchell’s stick.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2023
When it came, he read the puck and deflected it with the shaft of his stick, then watched as it knuckled past Shesterkin to make it 1-0 at 4:25.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 25, 2023
Possibly she wants to be a painter, and thinks I have compromised my principles, knuckled under to success.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Writing for the Sun on Sunday, Starmer described the strategy as "the most ambitious yet honest delivery plan in a generation" as the government was "knuckling down" on delivering its election promises.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2024
Fowler scored his career-best 43rd point with a goal in the first period on a knuckling shot that threaded a path among three Anaheim teammates.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
They may be white knuckling it because they live in perpetual fear of someday failing to measure up.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 26, 2022
I was white knuckling it on the passenger side, as one does, jamming my right foot down on the floor.
From Slate ● Feb. 23, 2022
He grimaced, knuckling the back of his thumb into his upper stomach.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
