4. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—Harrison, Barber, & Co. Ltd. shares. [An
amalgamation of horse-slaughterers].
Knacker’s brandy, subs. phr. (common).—A beating.
Knack-shop, subs. (old).—See quots.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Knack ... a Knack-shop or
Toy-shop, freighted with pretty Devises to Pick Pockets.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Knick-shop, a toy shop, a
nick-nackatory.
Knap, verb. (old).—1. To steal, receive, accept, endure, etc. Thus, to
knap a clout = to steal a handkerchief; to knap the swag = to grab the
booty; to knap seven or fourteen penn’ orth = to get seven or fourteen
years’; to knap the glim = to catch a clap. In making a bargain to knap
the sum offered is to accept it. Mr. Knap’s been there, is said of a
pregnant woman. To knap the rust = to fall into a rage. Originally (as
in quots 1537 and 1566) knap = to strike: whence knap (theatrical) = a
manual retort rehearsed and arranged; to take (or give) the knap = to
receive (or administer) a sham blow; and knapper = the head or receiver
general (q.v.).
1537. Thersites [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), i. 428]. She knappeth
me in the nose.
1566. Knox, Reformation in Scotland, I. i. 47 (Wodrow Society,
1846). And then begane no little fray, but yitt a meary game; for
rockattes were rent; typpets were torn, crownes were knapped.
1714. Lucas, Gamesters, 27. He was not ignorant in knapping, which
is, striking one die dead, and let the other run a milstone.
1820. London Magazine, i. 26. It was their husband’s object to knap
their thimbles.
1821. Haggart, Life, p. 51.
1839. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad, p. 223. We’ll knap a fogle with
fingers fly.
2. (pugilists’).—To be in punishment (q.v.); to catch it (q.v.). To
knap a hot ’un = to receive a hard blow.