Timber having a natural angular bend, suitable for making knees in shipbuilding or carpentry; = KNEE sb. 7. Also fig.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Goodness & Goodness of Nat. (Arb.), 206. Like to knee-tymber that is good for Shipps … but not for building houses.
1673. E. Brown, Trav. Germ., etc. (1677), 55. It is built with large Knee Timber, like the ribs of a Ship.
1791. Cowper, Yardley Oak, 99. Thy tortuous arms … Warped into tough knee-timber.
1898. Archæol. Æliana, XIX. III. 265. A plantation of oaks growing to provide ‘knee-timber’ for his ships.
b. with pl. A bent piece of timber used in carpentry or shipbuilding.
1739. Labelye, Short Acc. Piers Westm. Bridge, 24. Every Angle … had three Oaken Knee-Timbers, properly bolted and secured.
1795–1814. Wordsw., Excurs., VII. 606. Many a ship … to him hath owed Her strong knee-timbers.
