knuckle duster
- noun
- /ˈnʌkəl ˈdʌstər/
- UK
:
nudillera
- Knives and assorted knuckle duster curios.
Gloves with knuckle dusters inside under his bed.
- Gloves with knuckle dusters inside under his bed.
- But he always carried A knuckle duster, right.
- He said I carry around with me whatever weapon I know I can do the time for, and my preferred choice is knuckle dusters.
Examples
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That was after the lit cigarettes, the knuckle dusters, the knife, the rape.
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Where is that knuckle-duster?
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That is why you had the knuckle-duster, to hit.
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You do not know why he gave you the knuckle-duster?
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But he always carried A knuckle duster, right.
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On the way to the warehouse Craig gave you a knuckle-duster.
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Gloves with knuckle dusters inside under his bed.
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Men carried brass knuckles (or "knuckle-dusters") and a wide array of knives with them.
Blog text (9) -
The cast-bronze knuckle duster grip proved a formidable weapon in hand-to-hand combat.
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Men carried brass knuckle dusters and a wide array of knives with them.
Synonyms
5
7.7
A metal band worn over the knuckles to make a punch stronger
2
9.5
A small metal weapon that fits over your fingers to make a punch stronger
A small metal weapon worn over the knuckles to make a punch hit harder
A small metal weapon that you wear on the back of the hand to hit someone
Surface Forms
Morphology
knuckles + duster
The compound makes a clear link to 'knuckle', so a learner would likely infer it is an object associated with the knuckles, but the second element 'duster' does not carry an obvious weapon sense (common senses are a cloth for dusting or a long coat). Because the specific function as a small metal weapon worn over the knuckles is not directly predictable from the usual meanings of 'duster', the expression is only partially transparent and requires exposure to its idiomatic use.
Etymology
Knuckle duster comes from a small metal ring that fits over the knuckle and the idea of duster as something that hits, so the image is metal on the knuckles making a punch stronger. That's why the word now means a small 'weapon' used to make punches more dangerous.