The origin of “knuckle under” [Mary Gilmore’s column, 2 January 1908]

[Editor: This article was included in “A Woman’s Column” (edited by Mary Gilmore), published in The Worker (Wagga Wagga, NSW), 2 January 1908.]

The origin of “knuckle under.”

The word “knuckle” anciently meant any point of the body, and was commonly applied to the knee. It is now retained in this sense “a knuckle of veal,” hence to “knuckle under” meant to kneel and crave pardon.

“Knock under” is merely a corrupt contraction of knuckle under. Both phrases signify submission, and are stated by Johnson to refer to the old custom of striking the under side of a table with the knuckles in admission of having been beaten in an argument.

Source:
The Worker (Wagga Wagga, NSW), 2 January 1908, p. 15

[Editor: Changed “custon” to “custom”.]

[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]