Knuckle vs. Fist — What's the Difference?

The knuckles are the joints of the fingers. The word is cognate to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as the Dutch "knokkel" (knuckle) or German "Knöchel" (ankle), i.e., Knöchlein, the diminutive of the German word for bone (Knochen).

A fist is a hand when the fingers are bent in towards the palm and held there tightly. To make or clench a fist is to fold the fingers tightly into the center of the palm and then to clamp the thumb over the middle phalanges; in contrast to this "closed" fist, one keeps the fist "open" by holding the thumb against the side of the index finger.

The prominence of the dorsal aspect of a joint of a finger, especially of one of the joints connecting the fingers to the hand.

The hand closed tightly with the fingers bent against the palm.

A rounded protuberance formed by the bones in a joint.

(Informal) A grasp; a clutch

A cut of meat centering on the carpal or tarsal joint, as of a pig.

To clench into a fist.

The part of a hinge through which the pin passes.

To grasp with the fist.

A sharp angle formed by the meeting of two surfaces, especially two ship's timbers.

(Vulgar) To insert the hand into the rectum or vagina of (someone) as a means of sexual stimulation.

Knuckles Brass knuckles.

A hand with the fingers clenched or curled inward.

To press, rub, or hit with the knuckles.

(printing) The pointing hand symbol ☞.

To shoot (a marble) with the thumb over the bent forefinger.

(ham radio) The characteristic signaling rhythm of an individual telegraph or CW operator when sending Morse code.

Any of the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.

(slang) A person's characteristic handwriting.

(by extension) A mechanical joint.

A group of men. en

A cut of meat.

The talons of a bird of prey.

The curved part of the cushion at the entrance to the pockets on a cue sports table.

(informal) An attempt at something.

The kneejoint of a quadruped, especially of a calf; formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being.

The act of breaking wind; fise.

(obsolete) The joint of a plant.

A puffball.

(shipbuilding) A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.

To strike with the fist.

A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; a knuckle duster.

To close (the hand) into a fist.

The rounded point where a flat changes to a slope on a piste.

To grip with a fist.

(transitive) To apply pressure, or rub or massage with one's knuckles.

(slang) To fist-fuck.

To strike or punch.

(intransitive) To break wind.

(intransitive) To bend the fingers.

The hand with the fingers doubled into the palm; the closed hand, especially as clinched tightly for the purpose of striking a blow.

(intransitive) To touch one's forehead as a mark of respect.

The talons of a bird of prey.

To yield.

The index mark [ ], used to direct special attention to the passage which follows.

To land on the knuckle of a curve of a slope, after a jump off a ramp that precedes the slope.

To strike with the fist.

The joint of a finger, particularly when made prominent by the closing of the fingers.

To gripe with the fist.

The kneejoint, or middle joint, of either leg of a quadruped, especially of a calf; - formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being.

A hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

The joint of a plant.

The joining parts of a hinge through which the pin or rivet passes; a knuckle joint.

A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.

A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; - called also knuckle duster, knuckles or brass knuckles.

To yield; to submit; - used with down, to, or under.

To beat with the knuckles; to pummel.

A joint of a finger when the fist is closed

Press or rub with the knuckles

Shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground