Library / English Dictionary

KNUCKLES

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used in the plural) a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand

Synonyms:

brass knuckles; brass knucks; knuckle duster; knuckles; knucks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("knuckles" is a kind of...):

arm; weapon; weapon system (any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He flew at me with his knife, and I had to grasp him twice, and got a cut over the knuckles, before I had the upper hand of him.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Beats a washboard an' your knuckles, and, besides, it saves at least fifteen minutes in the week, an' fifteen minutes ain't to be sneezed at in this shebang."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I snatched a cutlass from the pile, and someone, at the same time snatching another, gave me a cut across the knuckles which I hardly felt.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I noticed at the same time that the Kanaka’s knuckles were laid open clear across and to the bone.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He rapped his knuckles again as he tried to pick it up.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Sometimes I see the butcher, bloody but confident; sometimes I see nothing, and sit gasping on my second's knee; sometimes I go in at the butcher madly, and cut my knuckles open against his face, without appearing to discompose him at all.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I had indeed levelled at that prominent feature as hard a blow as my knuckles could inflict; and when I saw that either that or my look daunted him, I had the greatest inclination to follow up my advantage to purpose; but he was already with his mama.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I sat up in bed and rapped my knuckles against the rail to make certain that I was truly awake.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And when I doze over that, I beat my head with my knuckles in order to drive sleep away.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I was greatly elated by these orders; but my heart smote me for my selfishness, when I witnessed their effect on Mr. Dick, who was so low-spirited at the prospect of our separation, and played so ill in consequence, that my aunt, after giving him several admonitory raps on the knuckles with her dice-box, shut up the board, and declined to play with him any more.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)