knuckle duster

knuckle duster
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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down. --Golding. [1913 Webster]

3. The joint of a plant. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mech.) The joining parts of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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; -- called also {knuckle duster}, {knuckles} or {brass knuckles}. [Slang.] [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • knuckle-duster — knuckle dusters also knuckleduster N COUNT A knuckle duster is a piece of metal that is designed to be worn on the back of a person s hand as a weapon, so that if they hit someone they will hurt them badly. [mainly BRIT] (in AM, use brass… …   English dictionary

  • knuckle-duster — knuckle .duster n a piece of metal that covers all the knuckles of the hand, used as a weapon …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • knuckle-duster — ☆ knuckle duster [nuk′ ldus΄tər ] n. BRASS KNUCKLES …   English World dictionary

  • knuckle duster — knuckles knuc kles n. pl. a small metal weapon, worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand; called also {brass knuckles} and {knuckle duster}. Syn: brass knucks, knucks, brass knuckles, knuckle duster. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • knuckle-duster — noun Date: 1858 knuckle 4 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • knuckle-duster — /nuk euhl dus teuhr/, n. See brass knuckles. [1855 60, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • knuckle duster — noun A weapon made of metal worn around the knuckles that strengthens the impact of a punch; brass knuckles. Syn: brass knuckles …   Wiktionary

  • knuckle duster — brass knuckles, type of metallic weapons worn on the hand to cause injury when punching …   English contemporary dictionary

  • knuckle-duster — noun (C) a metal covering for the backs of the fingers, used as a weapon …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • knuckle-duster — knuck·le dust·er …   English syllables

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