knuckle
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To strike or punch.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I could feel my big toe snap, but as he's gone down on his good knee and half swung round I knuckled him in the kidney as hard as I could hit. He's gone all the way down, so I dropped my 19 stone into the middle of his back.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “knuckle” mean?
To strike or punch.
Is “knuckle” formal or informal?
knuckle is generally slang.