knee jerk : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: knee jerk	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for knee jerk
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
knee jerk n a reflex extension of the leg resulting from a sharp tap on the patellar tendon Synonym(s): knee jerk, knee-jerk reflex, patellar reflex
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Knee \Knee\, n. [OE. kne, cneo, As. cne[a2], cne[a2]w; akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. kn[c6], G. & D. knie, OHG. chniu, chneo, Icel. kn[?], Sw. kn[84],Dan. kn[91], Goth. kniu, L. genu, Gr. [?], Skr. j[be]nu, [?] Cf. {Genuflection}.] 1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg. 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. 3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent. 4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. Give them title, knee, and approbation. --Shak. {Knee breeches}. See under {Breeches}. {Knee holly}, {Knee holm} (Bot.), butcher's broom. {Knee jerk} (Physiol.) a jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; one of the so-called tendon reflexes. {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.] [bd]Knee tribute yet unpaid.[b8] --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Knee jerk \Knee jerk\ (Physiol.) A jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle.