kneecapping

kneecapping (countable and uncountable, plural kneecappings)

1. (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.

2. (gerund, figurative, by extension) An excessively and needlessly damaging attack or disparagement.

• 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.

kneecapping

1. present participle and gerund of kneecap