Brodie knob

noun

A knob attached to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle or tractor, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm, especially when the steering effort is hardest (for example, while backing up with a trailer and the vehicle is nearly stationary).

Similar
granny knobsuicide knobwheel spinnernecker's knobnecker knob
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Meanings

nounBrodie knob (plural Brodie knobs)

plural Brodie knobs

  1. datedA knob attached to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle or tractor, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm, especially when the steering effort is hardest (for example, while backing up with a trailer and the vehicle is nearly stationary).

    Synonyms: granny knob, suicide knob, wheel spinner, necker's knob, necker knob

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA knob attached to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle or tractor, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm, especially when the steering effort is hardest (for example, while backing up with a trailer and the vehicle is nearly stationary).

Similar
granny knobsuicide knobwheel spinnernecker's knobnecker knob
Also see
granny knobnecker's knobsteering wheel spinner knobsuicide knobwheel spinner

Origin

In reference to Steve Brodie; more in Wikipedia at Brodie knob § Etymology.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Brodie knob. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brodie%20knob

MLA

“Brodie knob.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brodie%20knob. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Brodie knob,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brodie%20knob.

Source: Brodie knob on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.