knee
UK: niː | US: niː
n. the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans
n. a corresponding joint in other animals
vt. to strike or touch with the knee
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The word "knee" traces back to Old English cnēo, derived from Proto-Germanic knewa-, which in turn comes from Proto-Indo-European ǵnéwo- (meaning "knee"). This root is shared across many Indo-European languages (e.g., Latin genu, Greek gónu). The spelling simplified over time, losing the initial "k" sound (still present in German Knie and Dutch knie). The word has retained its core meaning as a body part while also developing a verbal sense ("to knee someone").
She fell and scraped her knee on the pavement.
The doctor examined his swollen knee after the injury.
He gently kneed the door open while carrying the boxes.
In some cultures, people bow and touch their knees to the ground as a sign of respect.
The toddler climbed onto her father’s knee to listen to the story.