bare-knuckle

or bare-knuck·led

[ bair-nuhk-uhl ]

adjective

1. (of a boxer) wearing no boxing gloves:

   These are bare-knuckle kids who need to learn a higher level of boxing.

2. (of a boxing match or other fight) without gloves:

   a bare-knuckle brawl.

3. without regard for rules or niceties; rough-and-tumble:

   a bare-knuckle approach to judicial reform.

adverb

1. without boxing gloves:

   He’s a scrappy guy who likes to fight bare-knuckle.

2. in a manner that bypasses rules and niceties:

   If we have to take on these land developers bare-knuckle, we will.

bare-knuckle

adjective

1. without boxing gloves

   a bare-knuckle fight

2. aggressive and without reservations

   a bare-knuckle confrontation

Word History and Origins

Origin of bare-knuckle¹

First recorded in 1880–85; bare ¹ + knuckle

Example Sentences

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, my third book, changed my life and put me on bare-knuckle terms with my abilities.

From The Daily Beast

How could it be that this word, and not “what” or “why,” has caused a bare-knuckle brawl at such a stratospheric social level?

From The Daily Beast

After the bare-knuckle brawl Ben Quayle has faced, however, his brother may think twice about following his lead.

From The Daily Beast

A solitary grey line of broken earth ran like a mole burrow up the bare knuckle and vanished over the top.

From Project Gutenberg

If to put over cold pies, make it of a small bare knuckle of veal, or of a scrag of mutton.

From Project Gutenberg