kneecap

[ nee-kap ]
/ ˈniˌkæp /

noun

the patella.
a protective covering, usually knitted, for the knee.

verb (used with object), knee·capped, knee·cap·ping.

to cripple (a person) by shooting in the knee: Terrorists were kneecapping prospective jurors.

Origin of kneecap

First recorded in 1650–60; knee + cap1

OTHER WORDS FROM kneecap

knee·cap·per, noun

Words nearby kneecap

knee-slapper, knee-socks, knee-sprung, knee-trembling, kneeboard, kneecap, kneehole, kneel, kneeler, kneeling bus, kneepad

Example sentences from the Web for kneecap

British Dictionary definitions for kneecap

kneecap
/ (ˈniːˌkæp) /

noun

anatomy a nontechnical name for patella
another word for poleyn

verb -caps, -capping or -capped (tr)

(esp of certain terrorist groups) to shoot (a person) in the kneecap, esp as an act of retaliation

Medical definitions for kneecap

kneecap
[ nē′kăp′ ]

n.

patella

Scientific definitions for kneecap

kneecap
[ nē′kăp′ ]

See patella.