kneecapping
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See also: knee-capping
English[edit]
Noun[edit]
kneecapping (countable and uncountable, plural kneecappings)
- (gerund) The act of injuring the knees of (a person), usually by shooting at the knees; often a punishment carried out by criminals or terrorists.
- The mafiosi punished the informer by giving him a kneecapping.
- Five kneecappings have been reported this month.
- (gerund, figurative, by extension) An excessively and needlessly damaging attack or disparagement.
Usage notes[edit]
- The literal sense of this term is considered a misnomer by medical professionals because only a very small minority of victims suffer damage to the kneecap.
Verb[edit]
kneecapping
- present participle and gerund of kneecap