/nok"ee, noh"kee/ ; It. /nyawk"kee/ , n. ( used with a sing. or pl. v. ) Italian Cookery.
a dish of little dumplings made from potatoes, semolina, flour, or a combination of these ingredients.
[ 1890-95; gnocco, orig. Upper It (Veneto), perh. c. Tuscan nocca, nocco knuckle knohha joint; see KNUCKLE ]