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Definition of knuckleduster

knuckleduster

/ˈnʌk.əlˌdʌs.tɚ/
knuck · le · dus · ter
Plural:knuckledusters
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knuckleduster Lexical Profile

knuckleduster Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A metal guard worn over the knuckles to increase the force of a punch and protect the hand.

Example

"The historical exhibit included a 19th-century knuckleduster confiscated by Victorian police."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for knuckleduster

• Nearby Words

knuckle
knuckleball
knucklebone
knuckleduster
knucklehead
knuckleheaded
knurled

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of "knuckle" and "duster," derived from the slang sense of "dust" meaning to beat or thrash.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Knuckleduster. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/knuckleduster
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