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brass knuckles

noun

a band of metal with four holes that fits over the upper fingers and that is gripped when a fist is made, used for increasing the effect of a blow with the fist.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of brass knuckles¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Bold works can hit with such a wallop that it takes a beat to gauge their lasting impact, to tell which set of brass knuckles left a mark: love or hate?

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He was punched in the face with brass knuckles and then stabbed in the chest, according to Fraijo.

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A Los Angeles police officer was charged Thursday with stealing brass knuckles and other weapons and tampering with evidence during enforcement stops carried out by an scandal-plagued gang unit, prosecutors said.

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Small groups of extremists, some members sporting brass knuckles, showed up at one farmers’ demonstration last month in the southern city of Montpellier.

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“She had on rings that were pretty much equivalent to brass knuckles.”

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When To Use

�� else does brass knuckles mean?

Brass knuckles are a piece of metal designed to fit around the fingers by the lower knuckles and gripped by the hand. They can pack a powerful, potentially lethal punch.How do you pronounce brass knuckles?[ bras nuhk-uhls ]

brass instrument brass neck

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