KNEECAP

patella, kneecap, kneepan

(noun) a small flat triangular bone in front of the knee that protects the knee joint

kneecap

(verb) shoot in the kneecap, often done by terrorist groups as a warning; “They kneecapped the industrialist”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

kneecap (plural kneecaps)

(anatomy) The flat, roundish bone in the knee.

Synonyms: kneepan, patella, rotula, scutum

(roofing) A metal cover trim that fits over a panel rib after it has been cut and bent.

A cap or strong covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to protect their knees in case of a fall.

Verb

kneecap (third-person singular simple present kneecaps, present participle kneecapping, simple past and past participle kneecapped)

(transitive) To destroy the knees of (a person), usually by shooting at the knees, as a punishment carried out by criminals or terrorists.

Usage notes

• This term is considered a misnomer by medical professionals because only a very small minority of victims suffer damage to the kneecap.

Source: Wiktionary


Knee"cap`, n.

1. (Anat.)

Definition: The kneepan.

2. A cap or protection for the knee.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

11 March 2025

CATECHISM

(noun) an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers


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Coffee Trivia

The earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking as the modern beverage appeared in modern-day Yemen. In the middle of the 15th century in Sufi shrines where coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed for drinking. The Yemenis procured the coffee beans from the Ethiopian Highlands.

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