'Knee holly' definitions:

Definition of 'Knee holly'

From: GCIDE
  • Knee \Knee\ (n[=e]), n. [OE. kne, cneo, As. cne['o], cne['o]w; akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. kn[imac], G. & D. knie, OHG. chniu, chneo, Icel. kn[=e], Sw. kn[aum], Dan. kn[ae], Goth. kniu, L. genu, Gr. go`ny, Skr. j[=a]nu, [root]231. Cf. Genuflection.]
  • 1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Anat.) (a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. (b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. [1913 Webster]
  • Give them title, knee, and approbation. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Knee breeches. See under Breeches.
  • Knee holly, Knee holm (Bot.), butcher's broom.
  • Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary.
  • Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it.
  • Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worship by genuflection. [Obs.] "Knee tribute yet unpaid." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'knee holly'

From: GCIDE
  • Broom \Broom\ (br[=oo]m), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. br[=o]m; akin to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. br[=a]mo broom, thorn?bush, G. brombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.]
  • 1. (Bot.) A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with when bound together; esp., the {Cytisus scoparius} of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves, and large yellow flowers. [1913 Webster]
  • No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom. [1913 Webster]
  • Butcher's broom, a plant (Ruscus aculeatus) of the Smilax family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; -- called also knee holly. See Cladophyll.
  • Dyer's broom, a species of mignonette (Reseda luteola), used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket.
  • Spanish broom. See under Spanish. [1913 Webster]