KNAR, när, _n._ a knot on a tree.--_n._ KNARL=GNARL.--_adj._ KNARRED,
gnarled, knotty.
KNAVE, n[=a]v, _n._ a false, deceitful fellow: a villain: a card bearing
the picture of a servant or soldier: (_Shak._) a boy.--_ns._ KNAVE'-BAIRN,
a male child; KNAV'ERY, dishonesty; KNAVE'SHIP (_Scot._), a certain
quantity of grain, the due of the miller.--_adj._ KNAV'ISH, fraudulent:
villainous.--_adv._ KNAV'ISHLY.--_n._ KNAV'ISHNESS. [A.S. _cnafa_, _cnapa_,
a boy, a youth; Ger. _knabe_, _knappe_.]
KNEAD, n[=e]d, _v.t._ to work and press together into a mass, as flour into
dough: to operate upon in massage: to mix.--_ns._ KNEAD'ER;
KNEAD'ING-TROUGH, a trough for kneading. [A.S. _cnedan_; Ice. _knoða_, Ger.
_kneten_, to knead.]
KNEE, n[=e], _n._ the joint between the thigh and shin bones: a piece of
timber or metal like a bent knee: (_Shak._) a genuflection.--_v.t._
(_Shak._) to kneel to, to go over on one's knees.--_n.pl._ KNEE'-BREECH'ES,
breeches extending to just below the knee, as in court-dress.--_n._
KNEE'-CAP, the bone above the protuberance of the knee: a cap or strong
covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to save their knees in
case of a fall.--_n.pl._ KNEE'-CORDS, knee-breeches of corduroy.--_adjs._
KNEE'-CROOK'ING, obsequious: fawning; KNEED, having knees: (_bot._) having
angular joints like the knee; KNEE'-DEEP, rising to the knees: sunk to the
knees; KNEE'-HIGH, rising or reaching to the knees.--_ns._ KNEE'-HOLL'Y,
butcher's broom: KNEE'-JOINT, a joint with two pieces at an angle, so as to
be very tight when pressed into a straight line; KNEE'-PAN, a flat, round
bone on the front of the knee-joint; KNEE'-PIECE, or -RAFT'ER, an angular
piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof-timbers meet: any
defensive appliance covering the knee; KNEE'-STOP, -SWELL, a lever worked
by the performer's knee, for regulating the wind-supply of a reed-organ,
&c.; KNEE'-TIM'BER, timber bent into a shape suitable for a knee in
shipbuilding, &c.; KNEE'-TRIB'UTE (_Milt._), the homage of kneeling.--GIVE,
or OFFER, A KNEE, to act as second or bottle-holder in a fight, the
principal resting on the second's knee during the pauses between the
rounds. [A.S. _cneów_, _cneó_; Ger. _knie_, L. _genu_, Gr. _gonu_.]
KNEEL, n[=e]l, _v.i._ to bend the knee: to rest or fall on the
knee:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ kneeled, knelt.--_n._ KNEEL'ER, one who kneels.
[_Knee_.]
KNELL, nel, _n._ the stroke of a bell: the sound of a bell at a death or
funeral.--_v.i._ to sound as a bell: toll.--_v.t._ to summon as by a
tolling bell. [A.S. _cnyllan_, to beat noisily; Dut. and Ger. _knallen_.]
KNELT, nelt, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _kneel_.
KNEW, n[=u], _pa.t._ of know.
KNICKERBOCKERS, nik-[.e]r-bok'[.e]rz, _n.pl._ loose breeches gathered in at
the knee.--Also KNICK'ERS. [From the wide-breeched Dutchmen in
'Knickerbocker's' (Washington Irving's) humorous _History of New York_,
whence _Knickerbocker_ has come to mean the descendant of one of the
original Dutch settlers of New York.]
KNICK-KNACK, nik'-nak, _n._ a trifle or toy.--_n._ KNICK'-KNACK'ERY,
knick-knacks collectively. [A doubling of _knack_.]
KNIFE, n[=i]f, _n._ an instrument for cutting: a sword or dagger:--_pl._
KNIVES (n[=i]vz).--_v.t._ to stab with a knife: (_Amer._) to try to destroy
a political candidate's chances by a treacherous attack.--_ns._
KNIFE'-AND-FORK', a trencherman; KNIFE'-BOARD, a board on which knives are
cleaned: (_coll._) the seat running along the top of an omnibus;
KNIFE'-BOY, a boy employed in cleaning knives; KNIFE'-EDGE (_mech._), a
sharp piece of steel like a knife's edge serving as the axis of a balance,
&c.; KNIFE'-GRIND'ER, one who grinds or sharpens knives; KNIFE'-MON'EY, a
knife-shaped bronze currency formerly used in China; KNIFE'-REST, a glass
or metal utensil on which to rest a carving-knife or fork; KNIFE'-TRAY, a
tray for holding knives.--WAR TO THE KNIFE, mortal combat. [A.S. _cníf_:
Ger. _kneif_, knife, _kneifen_, to nip.]
KNIGHT, n[=i]t, _n._ one of gentle birth and bred to arms, admitted in
feudal times to a certain honourable military rank: (_Shak._) an attendant:
a champion: the rank, with the title 'Sir,' next below baronets: a piece
used in the game of chess.--_v.t._ to create a knight.--_ns._ KNIGHT'AGE,
the collective body of knights; KNIGHT'-BACH'ELOR, one who has been
knighted merely, not made a member of any titular order; KNIGHT'-BANN'ERET,
a knight who carried a banner, and who was superior in rank to the
knight-bachelor; KNIGHT'-ERR'ANT, a knight who travelled in search of
adventures; KNIGHT'-ERR'ANTRY; KNIGHT'HOOD, the character or privilege of a
knight: the order or fraternity of knights; KNIGHT'HOOD-ERR'ANT (_Tenn._),
the body of knights-errant.--_adj._ KNIGHT'LESS (_Spens._), unbecoming a
knight.--_n._ KNIGHT'LINESS, the bearing or duties of a knight.--_adj._ and
_adv._ KNIGHT'LY.--_ns._ KNIGHT'-MAR'SHAL, formerly an officer of the royal
household; KNIGHT'-SERV'ICE, tenure by a knight on condition of military
service.--KNIGHT OF INDUSTRY, a footpad, thief, or sharper; KNIGHT OF THE
CARPET, a civil knight, as opposed to a military, so called because created
kneeling on a carpet, not the field; KNIGHT OF THE PESTLE, an apothecary;
KNIGHT OF THE POST, one familiar with the whipping-post or pillory; KNIGHT
OF THE ROAD, a highwayman; KNIGHT OF THE SHIRE, a member of parliament for
a county; KNIGHT'S FEE, the amount of land with which a knight was invested
on his creation; KNIGHTS OF LABOUR, in the United States, a national labour
organisation; KNIGHTS OF MALTA (see Hospitaller); KNIGHTS OF ST CRISPIN,
shoemakers; KNIGHTS OF THE RAINBOW, flunkeys from their liveries; KNIGHTS
OF THE SHEARS, tailors; KNIGHTS OF THE SPIGOT, tapsters, publicans; KNIGHTS
OF THE STICK, compositors; KNIGHTS OF THE WHIP, coachmen; KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
(see TEMPLAR). [A.S. _cniht_ Ger. and Dut. _knecht_, Dan. _knegt_.]
KNIT, nit, _v.t._ to form into a knot: to tie together: to unite into
network by needles: to unite closely, to draw together: to
contract.--_v.i._ to interweave with needles: to grow together:--_pr.p._
knit'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ knit'ted or knit.--_n._ (_Shak._) a style of
knitting.--_ns._ KNIT'TER; KNIT'TING, the work of a knitter: union,
junction: the network formed by knitting; KNIT'TING-MACHINE', a machine for
knitting; KNIT'TING-NEED'LE, a long needle or wire used for knitting thread
into stockings, &c. [A.S. _cnyttan_--_cnotta_, a knot.]
KNITCH, nich, _n._ (_prov._) a faggot.
KNITTLE, nit'l, _n._ (_naut._) a small line made of two or three yarns
twisted with the fingers: (_pl._) the halves of two yarns in a rope,
twisted for pointing.
KNIVES, _pl._ of _knife_.
KNOB, nob, _n._ a hard protuberance: a hard swelling: a round ball.--_adj._
KNOBBED, containing or set with knobs.--_n._ KNOB'BINESS.--_adj._ KNOB'BY,
full of knobs: knotty.--_n._ KNOB'STICK (_slang_), a synonym for a blackleg
or scab in trades-union slang. [_Knop_.]
KNOBKERRIE, nob'ker-i, _n._ a round-headed stick used as a club and a
missile by the Kafirs.
KNOCK, nok, _v.i._ to strike with something hard or heavy: to drive or be
driven against: to strike for admittance: to rap.--_v.t._ to strike: to
drive against.--_n._ a sudden stroke: a rap.--_adj._ KNOCK'-DOWN, such as
to overthrow.--_ns._ KNOCK'ER, the hammer suspended to a door for making a
knock: a goblin inhabiting a mine who points out the presence of ore by
knocks; KNOCK'ING, a beating on a door: a rap.--_adj._ KNOCK'-KNEED, having
knees that knock or touch in walking.--KNOCK ABOUT (_slang_), to saunter,
loaf about; KNOCK DOWN, to fell with a blow: assign to a bidder with a tap
of the auctioneer's hammer; KNOCK INTO A COCKED HAT (see COCK); KNOCK OFF,
to desist, cease: to accomplish hastily; KNOCK ON THE HEAD, to bring to a
sudden stop; KNOCK OUT, to beat in a boxing match, to overcome generally:
to lose the scent--of hounds in fox-hunting; KNOCK-OUT AUCTION, an auction
where the bidders are largely swindling confederates; KNOCK TOGETHER, to
get together or construct hastily; KNOCK UNDER, to give in, yield; KNOCK
UP, to rouse by knocking: weary out, or be worn out: to construct hastily:
(_U.S._) to get with child. [A.S. _cnucian_, _cnocian_; imit. like _knack_;
cf. Gael. _cnac_, _cnag_, &c.]
KNOLL, n[=o]l, _n._ a round hillock: the top of a hill. [A.S. _cnol_; Ger.
_knollen_, a knob, lump.]
KNOLL, n[=o]l. Same as KNELL.
KNOP, nop, _n._ (_B._) a knob, a bud. [A.S. _cnoep_; Dut. _knop_, Ger.
_knopf_.]
KNOSP, nosp, _n._ the unopened bud of a flower: an architectural ornament
resembling such. [Ger. _knospe_.]
KNOT, not, _n._ a wading-bird much resembling a snipe, sometimes said, but
without evidence, to be named from King _Cnut_ or _Canute_.
KNOT, not, _n._ a bunch of threads or the like entangled or twisted: an
interlacement of parts of a cord, &c., by twisting the ends about each
other, and then drawing tight the loops thus formed: a piece of ribbon,
lace, &c., folded or tied upon itself in some particular form, as
_shoulder-knot_, _breast-knot_, &c.: anything like a knot in form: a bond
of union: a difficulty: the gist of a matter: a cluster: the part of a tree
where a branch shoots out: an epaulet: (_naut._) a division of the
knot-marked log-line: a nautical mile.--_v.t._ to tie in a knot: to unite
closely.--_v.i._ to form knots or joints: to knit knots for a
fringe:--_pr.p._ knot'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ knot'ted.--_n._
KNOT'-GRASS, a common weed or grass, so called from the numerous joints or
knots of its stem.--_adjs._ KNOT'LESS, without knots; KNOT'TED, full of, or
having, knots: having intersecting lines or figures.--_n._
KNOT'TINESS.--_adj._ KNOT'TY, containing knots: hard, rugged: difficult:
intricate.--_n._ KNOT'WORK, ornamental work made with knots.--BOWLINE KNOT
(see BOW); GRANNY KNOT (see GRANNY); PORTERS' KNOT, a pad for supporting
burdens on the head; SQUARE KNOT, a knot used in tying reef-points so that
the ends come out alongside the standing parts; SURGEONS' KNOT, a square or
reef knot used in tying a ligature round a cut artery; TRUE LOVERS' KNOT, a
kind of double knot with two bows and two ends, an emblem of interwoven
affections.--CUT THE KNOT, to solve a problem slap-dash (cf. GORDIAN).
[A.S. _cnotta_; Ger. _knoten_, Dan. _knude_, L. _nodus_.]
KNOUT, nowt, _n._ a whip formerly used as an instrument of punishment in
Russia: punishment inflicted by the knout. [Russ. _knute_.]
KNOW, n[=o], _v.t._ to be informed of: to be assured of: to be acquainted
with: to recognise: (_B._) to approve: to have sexual commerce
with.--_v.i._ to possess knowledge:--_pr.p._ kn[=o]w'ing; _pa.t._ knew
(n[=u]); _pa.p._ known (n[=o]n).--_n._ (_Shak._) knowledge.--_adj._
KNOW'ABLE, capable of being known, discovered, or understood.--_ns._
KNOW'ABLENESS; KNOW'-ALL, one who thinks he knows everything;
KNOW'ER.--_adj._ KNOW'ING, intelligent: skilful: cunning.--_adv._
KNOW'INGLY.--_ns._ KNOW'INGNESS, the quality of being knowing or
intelligent: shrewdness; KNOW'-NOTH'ING, one who is quite ignorant: a
member of the native American party (1854-56).--_adj._ completely
ignorant.--KNOW A MOVE OR TWO, to be forearmed against trickery by a
knowledge of the tricks; KNOW ON WHICH SIDE ONE'S BREAD IS BUTTERED, to be
fully alive to one's own interest; KNOW THE ROPES, to understand the detail
of any matter, as a sailor does his rigging; KNOW WHAT'S O'CLOCK, KNOW
WHAT'S WHAT, to be thoroughly acquainted with something: to be wide awake.
[A.S. _cnáwan_; Ice. _kná_, L. _nosc[)e]re_ for _gnoscere_, Gr.
_gign[=o]skein_.]
KNOWLEDGE, nol'ej, _n._ assured belief: that which is known: information,
instruction: enlightenment, learning: practical skill.--_adj._
KNOWL'EDGEABLE (_coll._), possessing knowledge: intelligent.--_n._
KNOWL'EDGE-BOX (_slang_), the head.--TO ONE'S KNOWLEDGE, so far as one
knows. [M. E. _knowleche_, where _-leche_ is the Northern form of the
suffix in _wed-lock_, being A.S. _lác_, gift, sport.]
KNUB, nub, _n._ a knob, a small lump: the waste or refuse of
silk-cocoons.--Also KNUBS.
KNUCKLE, nuk'l, _n._ projecting joint of the fingers; (_cook._) the
knee-joint of a calf or pig.--_v.i._ to bend the fingers: to touch the
forehead as a mark of respect: to yield.--_v.t._ (_rare_) to touch with the
knuckle.--_ns._ KNUCK'LE-BONES, a game (called also _Dibs_); KNUCK'LE-BOW,
the curved part of a sword-guard that covers the fingers; KNUCK'LE-DUST'ER,
a kind of modern cestus, devised as a protection against garrotters;
KNUCK'LE-JOINT, a joint where the forked end of a connecting-rod is joined
by a bolt to another piece of the machinery.--KNUCKLE DOWN, to apply one's
self with vigour to a task: to submit--in this sense, also KNUCKLE UNDER.
[M. E. _knokil_; cf. Dut. _knokkel_; prob. Celt., W. _cnwc_.]
KNURL, n[.e]rl, _n._ (_Burns_) a humpback.
KNURL. Same as GNARL, KNARL.
KNURR, KNUR, nur, _n._ a knot in wood: a wooden ball.--KNUR AND SPELL, a
game played with a ball (_knur_), trap (_spell_), and tripstick, in vogue
chiefly in the north of England. [Old Dut. _knorre_.]
KOA, k[=o]'a, _n._ a forest-tree of the Sandwich Islands.