kneecap

American  

[nee-kap] / ˈniˌkæp /

noun

1. the patella.

2. a protective covering, usually knitted, for the knee.

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verb (used with object)

kneecapped, kneecapping

1. to cripple (a person) by shooting in the knee.

   Terrorists were kneecapping prospective jurors.

kneecap British  

/ ˈniːˌkæp /

noun

1. anatomy a nontechnical name for patella

2. another word for poleyn

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verb

1. (esp of certain terrorist groups) to shoot (a person) in the kneecap, esp as an act of retaliation

kneecap Scientific  

/ nē′kăp′ /

1. See patella

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Other Word Forms

• kneecapper noun

Etymology

Origin of kneecap

First recorded in 1650–60; knee + cap ¹

Example Sentences

“It doesn’t make any sense to kneecap consumers in the face of the strait being closed and driving up oil prices.”

From The Wall Street Journal

We were to our kneecaps in weeds and pods back here because I hadn’t worked this far with the scythe.

From Literature

Now legal attacks from outside threaten to kneecap it entirely.

From Los Angeles Times

Hill suffered torn ligaments and a dislocated kneecap in a game against the New York Jets last year, ending his season.

From Barron's

Lily bounces up and down, landing squarely on my kneecap again.

From Literature