brass knuckles

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brass knuckles

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
A metal chain or a set of rings attached to a bar that can be fitted over the fingers to increase the impact of a blow with the fist.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

brass′ knuck′les


n.
(used with a pl. v.) a band of metal with four holes that fits over the upper fingers and is gripped when a fist is made, used as a weapon.
[1850–55, Amer.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.brass knuckles - a small metal weaponbrass knuckles - a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand
weapon, weapon system, arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon"
plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The announcement follows a difficult period for the social media company, which has come under fire for its handling of private consumer data and its brass-knuckles approach to company critics, among other issues.
Jameson had originally been cited for battery after she allegedly used brass-knuckles case on her iPhone to attack Britney Markham at a Newport Beach salon on April 6.
In today's political world, Ratliff, a pleasant though tough centrist, was ill-suited-or at least, felt he was-for the rough-and-tumble, brass-knuckles ideological battle of a Republican primary.