3. (Eccl. Hist.) A name given to certain catechumens and penitents who
were permitted to join only in parts of church worship.
Kneel"ing*ly, adv. In a kneeling position.
Knee"pan` (?), n. (Anat.) A roundish, flattened, sesamoid bone in the
tendon in front of the knee joint; the patella; the kneecap.
Knee"piece` (?), n. A piece shaped like a knee; as, the kneepieces or
ears of a boat.
Knell (?), n. [OE. knel, cnul, AS. cnyll, fr. cnyllan to sound a bell;
cf. D. & G. knallen to clap, crack, G. & Sw. knall a clap, crack, loud
sound, Dan. knalde to clap, crack. Cf. Knoll, n. & v.] The stroke of a
bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a
passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating,
the passing away of anything.
The dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who.
Shak.
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.
Gray.
Knell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Knelling.] [OE.
knellen, knillen, As. cnyllan. See Knell, n.] To sound as a knell;
especially, to toll at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning
or evil omen.
Not worth a blessing nor a bell to knell for thee.
Beau. & Fl.
Yet all that poets sing, and grief hath known, Of hopes laid waste,
knells in that word, "alone".
Ld. Lytton.
Knell, v. t. To summon, as by a knell.
Each matin bell, the baron saith, Knells us back to a world of
death.
Coleridge.
Knelt (?), imp. & p. p. of Kneel.
Knew (?), imp. of Know.
Knick"er (?), n. [D. knikker.] A small ball of clay, baked hard and
oiled, used as a marble by boys in playing. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.]
Halliwell. Bartlett.
Knick"er*bock`ers (?), n. pl. The name for a style of short breeches;
smallclothes.
Knick"knack` (?), n. [See Knack.] A trifle or toy; a bawble; a gewgaw.
Knick"knack`a*to*ry (?), n. A collection of knickknacks. Richardson.
Knick"knack`er*y (?), n. Knickknacks.
Knife (?), n.; pl. Knives (#). [OE. knif, AS. cnf; akin to D. knijf,
Icel. knfr, Sw. knif, Dan. kniv.] 1. An instrument consisting of a thin
blade, usually of steel and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened
to a handle, but of many different forms and names for different uses;
as, table knife, drawing knife, putty knife, pallet knife, pocketknife,
penknife, chopping knife, etc..