[knee] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OE cneow; akin to OHG kneo knee, L genu, Gk gony] (bef. 12c) 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 ~"
3: the part of a garment covering the knee
4: a blow with the bent knee -- kneed adj -- to one's knees : into a state of submission or defeat
[2]knee vt kneed ; knee.ing (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: to bend the knee to
2: to strike with the knee