1727, from Japanese samurai warrior, knight, originally the military retainer of the daimio, variant of saburai, nominal form of sabura(h)u to be in attendance, to serve..
The bubbles make a noise when they burst. This is called cavitation. Another cause for painless popping in the knee is when the ligaments and tendons catch as they go over a bony lump and pop when they snap back into place. Or the clicking and popping may be caused by catching on soft tissue or scar tissue within the knee.
Twisting the knee is a common cause of overstretched or torn ligaments of the knee. The knee may give out suddenly when the ACL is torn and there may be a popping sound upon injury. Symptoms of a torn ACL include knee pain, swelling, stiffness, and bruising. Walking is painful and the knee feels instable.