Knuckle word meaning and definition

[noun] a joint of a finger when the fist is closed
[verb] shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground
[verb] press or rub with the knuckles

\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. 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 pars 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.

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