Old English cneo, cneow "knee," from Proto-Germanic *knewam (cognates: Old Norse kne, Old Saxon kneo, Old Frisian kni, Middle Dutch cnie, Dutch knie, Old High German kniu, German Knie, Gothic kniu), from PIE root *g(e)neu- (cognates: Sanskrit janu, Avestan znum, Hittite genu "knee;" Greek gony "knee," gonia "corner, angle;" Latin genu "knee"). Knee-slapper "funny joke" is from 1955.

early 13c., "to bend the knee, kneel," from Old English cneowian, from cneow (see knee, n.). The meaning "to strike with the knee" is first recorded 1892. Related: Kneed; kneeing.