KNI, KNÍ, KNY - knee, 'degree of kinship'

[Added 18-5-24:] A relation to English kin, and Latin genus (→ genetics, genealogy, gender) seems obvious (as well as kind and kennen). Compare Middle Dutch Cnie ]

man kneeling at a love-altar, between 1762-1825

woman kneeling at a death-altar, 18th century

Some varieties of the word:
knee - English
knie - Dutch, German, Afrikaans
knæ - Danish
kne - Norse
knä - Swedish
hné - Icelandic
genou - French
genu, geniculum - Latin

In the Oera Linda texts, the word is used in two different contexts: 

• KNIBUWGJANDE TÁNK - 'knee-bending thanks': fragments 2 and 3
• SJUGONDE/ FJARDE KNY/ KNÍ - seventh/ fourth degree: fragments 1, 4 and 5

1. [010/17]
THA HJU HIRA BÀRN VPBROCHT HÉDE ALTO THÉRE SJUGONDE KNY
When she had raised her children to the seventh generation (or: degree)

2. [011/26]
WR.ALDAS GÁST MÉI MÀN ALLÉNA KNIBUWGJANDE TÁNK TOWÍA
To Wralda's spirit alone should the knee be bent in gratitude
[lit. "... dedicate knee-bending thanks"]

3. [012/06]
NIM NÀMMAR KNI.BUWGJANDE TÁNK FON.JV NÉSTON ÁN
Never accept obeisance* from your kinsmen
[*obeisance (excessively servile gratitude) — lit.: knee-bending thanks]

4. [016/03]
HJA NE MÜGON NAVT VPFOLGATH NE WERTHA THRVCH HJARA SIBTAL. NÉJAR SÁ THA FJARDA KNÍ
they shall not be succeeded by relatives nearer than the fourth degree

5. [022/28]
SA NE MÉI NÉN SIBBA HIM VPFOLGJA THÉR.IM NÉIAR SY SA THA FJARDE KNY
[then] he may not be succeeded by a relative nearer than the fourth degree
[lit. "no relative may succeed him..."]