Knee

Knee, nē, n. the joint between the thigh and shin bones: a piece of timber or metal like a bent knee: (Shak.) a genuflection.—v.t. (Shak.) to kneel to, to go over on one's knees.—n.pl. Knee′-breech′es, breeches extending to just below the knee, as in court-dress.—n. Knee′-cap, the bone above the protuberance of the knee: a cap or strong covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to save their knees in case of a fall.—n.pl. Knee′-cords, knee-breeches of corduroy.—adjs. Knee′-crook′ing, obsequious: fawning; Kneed, having knees: (bot.) having angular joints like the knee; Knee′-deep, rising to the knees: sunk to the knees; Knee′-high, rising or reaching to the knees.—ns. Knee′-holl′y, butcher's broom: Knee′-joint, a joint with two pieces at an angle, so as to be very tight when pressed into a straight line; Knee′-pan, a flat, round bone on the front of the knee-joint; Knee′-piece, or -raft′er, an angular piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof-timbers meet: any defensive appliance covering the knee; Knee′-stop, -swell, a lever worked by the performer's knee, for regulating the wind-supply of a reed-organ, &c.; Knee′-tim′ber, timber bent into a shape suitable for a knee in shipbuilding, &c.; Knee′-trib′ute (Milt.), the homage of kneeling.—Give, or Offer, a knee, to act as second or bottle-holder in a fight, the principal resting on the second's knee during the pauses between the rounds. [A.S. cneów, cneó; Ger. knie, L. genu, Gr. gonu.]