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Glite Dictionary
knee piece

knee piece

9.9
A curved metal plate that protects the knee in armor
  • noun
  • /niː piːs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pieza de rodilla
  • The knight's knee piece was dented during the fierce battle.

Examples

  • Medieval armorers crafted each knee piece to fit the wearer precisely.

  • The knight wore a shiny knee piece for protection.

  • In museum displays, the knee piece often stands out due to its decorative design.

  • Can you pass me the knee pieces from the armor set?

  • The knight's knee piece provided essential protection during the battle.

  • During the medieval tournament, each knight proudly displayed his ornate knee piece.

  • The craftsman meticulously polished the knee piece to ensure it was both functional and beautiful.

Synonyms

knee pad
vsknee piece
5 1.3

A soft pad worn over the knee to protect it during work or sport

is a rigid armor component made to protect the same joint in combat

Surface Forms

knee piece singular
knee pieces plural

Morphology

knee + piece

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'knee' (a body joint) with 'piece' (an item/part): it denotes an item for the knee, here protective armor. Noun–noun compounding to indicate an object associated with a body part is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer this meaning.

Etymology

The name knee piece comes from old armor: a small piece of metal that covers the knee, the place where your leg bends, and bends with you to protect it. That's why it means 'a piece of armor designed to protect the knee'.