Brass Knuckles
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
A weapon worn on the hand for the purposes of offence or defence, so made that in hitting with the fist considerable damage is inflicted. It is called "brass knuckles" because it was originally made of brass. The term is now used as the name of the weapon without reference to the metal of which it is made; Patterson v. State, 3 Lea (Tenn.) 575.