Knuc"kle (?), n. [OE. knokel,
knokil, AS. cuncel; akin to D. knokkel, OFries.
knokele, knokle, G. knöchel, 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.
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.
Golding.
3. The joint of a plant. [Obs.]
Bacon.
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; as, brass
knuckles; -- called also knuckle duster.
[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.
Knuc"kle, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Knuckled (?);; p. pr. & vb. n.
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.]
Knuc"kle, v. t. To beat with the
knuckles; to pommel. [R.] Horace Smith.
