knuckles

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers. --Davenant. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down.— Golding.[1913 Webster]

3.The joint of a plant. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4.(Mech.) The joining parts of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: brass knucks, knucks, brass knuckles, knuckle duster. [WordNet 1.5]