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 held in the shady neighbourhood of Fox-court, in Grays Inn-lane, which, according to the card pertaining thereto, was for the benefit of someone who was down on the knuckle bone in consequence of having been put away since the previous October (it was then the month of March), and only just now released.

Knuckled, adj. (tailors').—Handsome.

Knuckledabs (or knuckle-confounders), subs. (old).—Handcuffs.—Grose (1785). For synonyms see Darbies.

Knuckle-duster, subs. (common).—A knuckle-guard of iron or brass which, in striking, protects the hand from injury and adds force to a blow.

1858. Times, 15 Feb. Knuckle-duster a formidable American instrument, made of brass, which slips easily on to the four fingers of the hand, and having a projecting surface, across the knuckles, is calculated, in a pugilistic encounter to inflict serious injury on the person against whom it is directed.

1861. Sala, Twice round the Clock, Noon Par. 12. A bunch of skeleton keys, a knuckle-duster, and a piece of wax candle, all articles sufficiently indicative of the housebreaker's stock-in-trade.

1866. Era, 18 June. Without a moment's hesitation—except to load a six-barrelled revolver with ball cartridge and to arm himself with a pair of Yankee knuckle-dusters—the intrepid African opened the door of the den.

1872. Standard, 'Middlesex Sessions Report'. In another box he found a life-preserver, the end of it being loaded with lead, knuckle-dusters, and other things of the same description.

1877. E. L. Linton, World Well Lost, xii. A kind of panic went through the place, and the demand for revolvers and knuckledusters, iron shutters and bells surprised the tradesmen.

1883. Daily News, 20 March, p. 6, col. 3. He struck at him in the face with a knuckle-duster he had in his hand.

1887. Daily Chronicle, 8 Dec. Hayzeman stepped from the other side of the road, and struck prosecutor on the nose, the blow, as believed, being given with a knuckle-duster.

1888. J. Runciman, The Chequers, 84. We were a jovial company: four of us were wondering how they could rob the fifth, and that fifth resolved, quite early in this seance, to use his knuckleduster promptly, and to prevent either of the male warblers from getting behind him, at any risk.

1890. Standard, 30 July, p. 3, col. 6. The Prisoner made no reply, but struck him with a knuckle-duster, which he took out of his pocket.

2. (common).—A large, heavy, or over-gaudy ring.

Knuckler, subs. (old).—A pickpocket.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 184. A universal knocking of knuckles by the knucklers was followed by profound silence.

1843. Punch iv. 129. A rush,—a hustle,—merrily then Begins the knucklers' war.

Knuller, subs. (old).—1. See quot.: also kneller.

1861-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, ii. p. 405. The knullers or 'queriers', that is to say, those [chimney-sweepers] who solicit custom in an irregular manner, by knocking at the doors of houses and such like.

2. (common).—A clergyman. [Cf. sense 1 and Clergyman].

Kokum, subs. (Australian prison).—Sham kindness. See Cocum.

Kone, subs. (American thieves').—Counterfeit coin.—Matsell (1859).

Koniacker (or Cogniac-er), subs. (American thieves').—A counterfeiter.—Matsell (1859).

Kool, verb. (back-slang).—To look.