n.
Pronunciation: ' n ē
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cn ē ow; akin to Old High German kneo knee, Latin genu, Greek gony
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella also : the part of the leg that includes this joint b (1) : the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee (2) : the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate c : the tarsal joint of a bird d : the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect
2 : something resembling the human knee: as a : a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (as the deck beams of a ship) b : a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees <cypress knee >
3 : the part of a garment covering the knee
4 : a blow with the bent knee
– kneed \ ' n ē d \ adjective
– to one's knees : into a state of submission or defeat