Definition

The act of injuring someone's knees, often by shooting them, usually as a form of punishment or intimidation.

Example

The gang was known for their brutal kneecapping of rivals to instill fear.

Conversation

Did you hear about that movie where they show a kneecapping?

Yeah, it's pretty brutal and intense, isn't it?

I can't believe they would actually depict something like that.

I know, it's shocking how far some films go for drama.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kneecapping → The word is formed from "knee" (from Old English "cneow", meaning the joint between the thigh and the lower leg) and "capping" (from the verb "cap", meaning to cover or to put a cap on). The term "kneecapping" refers to the act of deliberately injuring someone's knee, often to incapacitate them, as if putting a cap on their ability to walk or move freely.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'knee' as the joint that is being 'covered' or 'capped' in a harmful way, which helps you remember that 'kneecapping' means to injure someone's knee.

Visually Confused Words