in anatomy, the articulation of the thigh and leg-bones. See Anatomy, part I. &c.

in a ship, a crooked piece of timber, bent like a knee, used to bind the beams and futtocks together, by being bolted fast into them both. These are used about all the decks.

Carling-Knees, in a ship, those timbers which extend from the sides to the hatch-way, and bear up the deck on both sides.