Phrase guide

brass knuckles

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A weapon consisting of a metal reinforcement for the clenched fist, with finger holes molded in.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

Examples

  • Jacob always carried a set of brass knuckles, just in case he ever got caught up in a bar fight.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: brass knucks, knucks, knuckles, knuckle duster

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: weapon, arm, weapon system

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: منافض مفصل — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Armenian: կռփազենք (kṙpʻazenkʻ) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Armenian: կաստետ (kastet) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Azerbaijani: beşbarmaq — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Bulgarian: бокс (boks) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Catalan: puny americà — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Chinese Mandarin: 指節銅環 /指节铜环 (zhǐjiétónghuán) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Chinese Mandarin: 指節銅套 /指节铜套 (zhǐjiétóngtào) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Chinese Mandarin: 鐵蓮花 /铁莲花 (tiěliánhuā) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Cornish: dorn brest — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Danish: knojern — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Dutch: boksbeugel — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Estonian: kasteet — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Finnish: nyrkkirauta — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • French: poing américain — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • West-Frisian: boksbûgel — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Georgian: კასტეტი (ḳasṭeṭi) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • German: Schlagring — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Greek: σιδηρογροθιά (sidirogrothiá) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Hebrew: אגרופן (egrofán) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Hungarian: boxer — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Icelandic: hnúajárn — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Irish: miotóg phráis — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Italian: tirapugni — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Japanese: ナックルダスター (nakkuru dasutā) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Japanese: メリケンサック (meriken sakku) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Korean: 너클 (neokeul) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Macedonian: боксирач (boksirač) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Maltese: ponn tal-ħadid — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Norwegian: knokejern — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Persian: پنجه بوکس — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Plautdietsch: Fustrinkj — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Polish: kastet — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Polish: szpadryna — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Portuguese: soco-inglês — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Portuguese: soqueira — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Russian: касте́т (kastét) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Spanish: puño de acero — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Spanish: puño americano — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Spanish: manopla — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Spanish: nudillera — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Swedish: knogjärn — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Turkish: muşta — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Ukrainian: касте́т (kastét) — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Vietnamese: tay đấm sắt — weapon which reinforces the fist
  • Welsh: dwrn haearn — weapon which reinforces the fist