Definition

1. Noun:

   • A finger joint: The bony prominence at the joint of a finger, especially when the hand is made into a fist.
   • A cut of meat: A joint of meat, such as pork or veal, that includes the knucklebone or a similar joint.

2. Verb:

   • To press or rub with a knuckle: To use the knuckles to apply pressure or friction.
   • To shoot a marble: In the game of marbles, to shoot a marble by placing a knuckle on the ground and propelling the marble with the thumb.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • He rapped his knuckles on the wooden table. (He tapped the table with the bony joints of his fingers.)
  • The recipe calls for a ham knuckle to add flavor to the soup. (The recipe requires a joint of ham for the soup's flavor.)

• Verb:

  • She knuckled her tired eyes. (She rubbed her tired eyes with her knuckles.)
  • To shoot accurately, you must learn to knuckle correctly. (For accurate shooting in marbles, you must learn the proper knuckle-down technique.)

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• To knuckle down: To begin to work hard and seriously.
  • The exams are next month; it's time to knuckle down and study.
• To knuckle under: To submit or yield to authority or pressure.
  • After a long debate, the opposition finally knuckled under.
• A rap on/over the knuckles: A mild punishment or sharp criticism.
  • The manager gave the team a rap over the knuckles for missing the deadline.
• Near the knuckle (Chiefly British, informal): Bordering on being indecent or offensive.
  • Some of his jokes were a bit near the knuckle for a formal dinner.

Variants and Related Words

• Knuckly (adjective, informal): Having prominent knuckles.
• Knuckleball (noun): In baseball, a slow pitch thrown with the ball gripped on or near the knuckles, causing an erratic trajectory.
• Knuckleduster (noun): A metal weapon worn over the knuckles; brass knuckles.
• Knucklehead (noun, informal): A stupid or foolish person.

Synonyms

• Noun (joint): Joint, articulation.
• Verb (press/rub): Rub, press, grind.

Phrasal Verbs

• Knuckle down to (something): To apply oneself seriously to a task.
  • He knuckled down to the difficult paperwork.
• Knuckle under to (someone/something): To submit to a person or force.
  • They refused to knuckle under to the bully's demands.

Noun

1. a joint of a finger when the fist is closed

Verb

1. shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground
2. press or rub with the knuckles