The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers.
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. "With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down."
3.
The joint of a plant. (Obs.)
4.
(Mech.) The joining parts of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint.
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.
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.)
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.
verb
Knuckle v. t. To beat with the knuckles; to pummel. (R.)
Knuckle v. i. (past & past part. knuckled; pres. part. knuckling) To yield; to submit; used with down, to, or under.
To knuckle to.
(a)
To submit to in a contest; to yield to. (Colloq.) See To knock under, under Knock, v. i.
(b)
To apply one's self vigorously or earnestly to; as, to knuckle to work. (Colloq.)
... she'll founder in deep water if he backs her off the ground." A tiny spit of flame, pale against the moonlight, jerked out from under the awnings of the steamer's upper bridge. The noise of the shot came some time afterward, no louder than the cracking of a knuckle. "By James! somebody's getting his gun into use pretty quick. Well, it's some one else's trouble, and not mine, and I guess I'm going to stay on the beach, and watch, and not meddle." He frowned angrily as though some one had made a suggestion to him. "No, by James! I'm not one of those that ... — A Master of Fortune • Cutcliffe Hyne Read full book for free!
... Ischia in exchange for it, and chose it as his favourite refuge from the excessive heat. Suetonius gives a pleasant gossiping picture of the old man's life in his short holidays there, his delight in idly listening to the prattle of his Moorish and Syrian slave-boys as they played knuckle-bones on the beach, his enjoyment of the cool breeze which swept through his villa even in summer or of the cool plash of water from the fountain in the peristyle, his curiosity about the big fossil bones dug up in the island which he ... — Stray Studies from England and Italy • John Richard Green Read full book for free!
... said, as he put a bleeding knuckle to his lips. "Don't make much difference, I should think, whether you fall one hundred feet or five. Bother! I wish I did not keep ... — Cutlass and Cudgel • George Manville Fenn Read full book for free!
... to the bones corresponding to the middle and ring finger, and occurs between the knuckle and the wrist, appearing as a swelling on the back of the hand. On looking at the closed fist it will be seen that the knuckle corresponding to the broken bone in the back of the hand has ceased to be prominent, ... — The Home Medical Library, Volume I (of VI) • Various Read full book for free!
... Two of the older boys play at knuckle-bones, others whip spinning-tops, and a little naked girl runs behind supporting herself with a stick, on the head of which is carved a bird. The procession is brought up by the queen- mother, who carries the youngest baby and ... — Legends Of Babylon And Egypt - In Relation To Hebrew Tradition • Leonard W. King Read full book for free!
...
Read full book for free!
