Word Study
kneecap
CIDE DICTIONARY
kneecap, n.
- A roundish, flattened, sesamoid bone in the tendon in front of the knee joint; the patella; the kneepan. [1913 Webster]
- A cap or protection for the knee.
kneecap, v. t.
to break the knees of, especially by shooting in the kneecap; -- often done by criminal or terrorist groups as a warning or punishment.
"" [WordNet 1.5]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
kneecap, n. & v.
--n.
1 the convex bone in front of the knee-joint.
2 a protective covering for the knee.
--v.tr. (-capped, -capping) colloq. shoot (a person) in the knee or leg as a punishment, esp. for betraying a terrorist group.
--n.
1 the convex bone in front of the knee-joint.
2 a protective covering for the knee.
--v.tr. (-capped, -capping) colloq. shoot (a person) in the knee or leg as a punishment, esp. for betraying a terrorist group.
Derivative
kneecapping n.
For further exploring for "kneecap" in Webster Dictionary Online