I. ˈnē noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cnēow; 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 ˈnēd adjective
•
- to one's knees
II. transitive verb
( kneed ; knee·ing )
Date: before 12th century
1. archaic : to bend the knee to
2. : to strike with the knee