From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Knee \Knee\ (n[=e]), n. [OE. kne, cneo, As. cne['o], cne['o]w;
akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. kn[imac], G. & D. knie, OHG.
chniu, chneo, Icel. kn[=e], Sw. kn[aum], Dan. kn[ae], Goth.
kniu, L. genu, Gr. go`ny, Skr. j[=a]nu, [root]231. Cf.
{Genuflection}.]
1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg.
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2. (Anat.)
(a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh
and leg.
(b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint,
corresponding to the wrist in man.
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3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed
with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when
bent.
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4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy.
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Give them title, knee, and approbation. --Shak.
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{Knee breeches}. See under {Breeches}.
{Knee holly}, {Knee holm} (Bot.), butcher's broom.
{Knee joint}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Knee timber}, timber with knees or angles in it.
{Knee tribute}, or {Knee worship}, tribute paid by kneeling;
worship by genuflection. [Obs.] "Knee tribute yet unpaid."
--Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Breeches \Breech"es\ (br[i^]ch"[e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek,
AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel.
br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L.
bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.]
1. A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs;
smallclothes.
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His jacket was red, and his breeches were blue.
--Coleridge.
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2. Trousers; pantaloons. [Colloq.]
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{Breeches buoy}, in the life-saving service, a pair of canvas
breeches depending from an annular or beltlike life buoy
which is usually of cork. This contrivance, inclosing the
person to be rescued, is hung by short ropes from a block
which runs upon the hawser stretched from the ship to the
shore, and is drawn to land by hauling lines.
{Breeches pipe}, a forked pipe forming two branches united at
one end.
{Knee breeches}, breeches coming to the knee, and buckled or
fastened there; smallclothes.
{To wear the breeches}, to usurp the authority of the
husband; -- said of a wife. [Colloq.]
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
knee breeches
n 1: trousers ending above the knee [syn: {breeches}, {knee
breeches}, {knee pants}, {knickerbockers}, {knickers}]
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