Main Entry: ¹knee

Pronunciation: \ˈnē\

Function: 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 : into a state of submission or defeat