Chapter 62

Knab"ble (?), v. i. [Freq. of knab.] To bite or nibble. [Obs.]

Horses will knabble at walls, and rats gnaw iron.

Sir T. Browne.

Knack (nk), v. i. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. G. knacken to break, Dan. knage to crack, and E. knock.] 1. To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall.

2. To speak affectedly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Knack, n. 1. A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack.

A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap.

Shak.

2. A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity.

The fellow . . . has not the knack with his shears.

B. Jonson.

The dean was famous in his time, And had a kind of knack at rhyme.

Swift.

3. Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device. "The knacks of japers." Chaucer.

For how should equal colors do the knack !

Pope.

Knack"er (?), n. 1. One who makes knickknacks, toys, etc. Mortimer.

2. One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand; -- called also clapper. Halliwell.

Knack"er, n. [Cf. Icel. hnakkr a saddle.] 1. a harness maker. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. One who slaughters worn-out horses and sells their flesh for dog's meat. [Eng.]

Knack"ish, a. Trickish; artful. [Obs.] -- Knack"ish*ness, n. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Knack"-kneed` (?), a. See Knock-kneed.

Knack"y (?), a. Having a knack; cunning; crafty; trickish. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.

Knag (?), n. [Cf. Prov. G. knagge a knot in wood, Sw. knagg, Dan. knag a hook to hand clothes on, a bracket; Gael. & Ir. cnag peg, knob.] 1. A knot in wood; a protuberance. Wright.

2. A wooden peg for hanging things on. Wright.

3. The prong of an antler. Holland.

4. The rugged top of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Knag"ged (?), a. Full of knots; knaggy.

Knag"gy (?), a. Knotty; rough; figuratively, rough in temper. Fuller. -- Knag"gi*ness (#), n.

Knap (?), n. [AS. cnæp, cnæpp, top, knob, button; cf. Icel. knappr knob, Sw. knapp, Dan. knap button, W., Gael., & Ir. cnap knob, button, and E. knop.] A protuberance; a swelling; a knob; a button; hence, rising ground; a summit. See Knob, and Knop.

The highest part and knap of the same island.

Holland.

Knap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Knapping.] [D. knappen to chew, bite, crack, take hold of; prob. of imitative origin.] 1. To bite; to bite off; to break short. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. ]

He will knap the spears apieces with his teeth.

Dr. H. More.

He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder.

Ps. xlvi. 9 (Book of Common Prayer.)

2. To strike smartly; to rap; to snap. Bacon.

Knap, v. i. To make a sound of snapping. Wiseman.

Knap, n. A sharp blow or slap. Halliwell.

Knap"bot`tle (?), n. (Bot.) The bladder campion (Silene inflata).

Knap"pish (?), a. [See Knap to strike.] Snappish; peevish. [Obs.] Grafton.

Knap"ple (?), v. i. [Freq. of knap, v., cf. D. knabbelen to gnaw.] To break off with an abrupt, sharp noise; to bite; to nibble. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Knap"py (?), a. Having knaps; full of protuberances or humps; knobby. [Obs.] Huloet.

Knap"sack` (?), n. [D. knapzak; knappen to eat + zak a bag. See Knap, v. t., and Sack.] A case of canvas or leather, for carrying on the back a soldier's necessaries, or the clothing, etc., of a traveler.

And each one fills his knapsack or his scrip With some rare thing that on the field is found.

Drayton.

Knap"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) The black centaury (Centaurea nigra); -- so called from the knoblike heads of flowers. Called also bullweed.

Knar (när), n. See Gnar. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Knarl (närl), n. A knot in wood. See Gnarl.

Knarled (närld), a. Knotted. See Gnarled.

Knarred (närd), a. Knotty; gnarled.

The knarred and crooked cedar knees.

Longfellow.

Knar"ry (när"r), a. Knotty; gnarled. Chaucer.

Knave (nv), n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. knaap, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.] Wyclif. Chaucer.

O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night.

Shak.

2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.] Chaucer.

He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will.

Shak.

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. "A pair of crafty knaves." Shak.

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools.

Ames.

"How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !" Trench.

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack.

Knave child, a male child. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant.

Knav"er*y (?), n.; pl. Knaveries (&?;). 1. The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action.

This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name.

Shak.

2. pl. Roguish or mischievous tricks. Shak.

Knave"ship, n. A small due, in meal, established by usage, which is paid to the under miller. [Scot.]

Knav"ess (?), n. A knavish woman. Carlyle.

Knav"ish, a. 1. Like or characteristic of a knave; given to knavery; trickish; fraudulent; dishonest; villainous; as, a knavish fellow, or a knavish trick. "Knavish politicians." Macaulay.

2. Mischievous; roguish; waggish.

Cupid is knavish lad, Thus to make poor females mad.

Shak.

Knav"ish*ly, adv. 1. In a knavish manner; dishonestly; fraudulently. Holland.

2. Mischievously; waggishly; roguishly. "Knavishly witty." Gayton.

Knav"ish*ness, n. The quality or state of being knavish; knavery; dishonesty.

Knaw (n), v. t. See Gnaw. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Knaw"el (n"l), n. [Akin to G. knauelk, knäuel, prop., a ball of thread, coil. Cf. Clew.] (Bot.) A low, spreading weed (Scleranthus annuus), common in sandy soil.

Knead (nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kneaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Kneading.] [OE. kneden, As. cnedan; akin to D. kneden, G. kneten, Sw. knåda, Icel. knoða; cf. OSlav. gnesti.] 1. To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, etc.; as, to knead dough.

The kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking.

Shak.

2. Fig.: To treat or form as by kneading; to beat.

I will knead him : I'll make him supple.

Shak.

Kneading trough, a trough or tray in which dough is kneaded. Ex. viii. 3.

Knead"a*ble (?), a. That may be kneaded; capable of being worked into a mass.

Knead"er (?), n. One who kneads.

Knead"ing*ly, adv. In the manner of one kneading.

Kne"bel*ite (?), n. [From Major von Knebel.] (Min.) A mineral of a gray, red, brown, or green color, and glistening luster. It is a silicate of iron and manganese.

Kneck (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) The twisting of a rope or cable, as it is running out. [Eng.]

Knee (n), n. [OE. kne, cneo, As. cneó, cneów; akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. kn, G. & D. knie, OHG. chniu, chneo, Icel. kn, Sw. knä, Dan. knæ, Goth. kniu, L. genu, Gr. go`ny, Skr. jnu, √231. Cf. Genuflection.] 1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg.

2. (Anat.) (a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. (b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man.

3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.

4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy.

Give them title, knee, and approbation.

Shak.

Knee breeches. See under Breeches. -- Knee holly, Knee holm (Bot.), butcher's broom. -- Knee jerk (Physiol.) a jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; one of the so-called tendon reflexes. -- Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary. -- Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it. -- Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worship by genuflection. [Obs.] "Knee tribute yet unpaid." Milton.

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Knee (n), v. t. To supplicate by kneeling. [Obs.]

Fall down, and knee The way into his mercy.

Shak

Knee"brush` (n"brsh`), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A tuft or brush of hair on the knees of some species of antelopes and other animals; -- chiefly used in the plural.

2. (Zoöl.) A thick mass or collection of hairs on the legs of bees, by aid of which they carry the collected pollen to the hive or nest; -- usually in the plural.

Knee"cap` (?), n. 1. (Anat.) The kneepan.

2. A cap or protection for the knee.

Knee"-crook`ing (?), a. Obsequious; fawning; cringing. "Knee-crooking knave." Shak.

Kneed (?), a. 1. Having knees;- used chiefly in composition; as, in-kneed; out-kneed; weak-kneed.

2. (Bot.) Geniculated; forming an obtuse angle at the joints, like the knee when a little bent; as, kneed grass.

Knee"-deep` (?), a. 1. Rising to the knees; knee-high; as, water or snow knee- deep.

Grass knee-deep within a month.

Milton.

2. Sunk to the knees; as, men knee- deep in water.

Where knee-deep the trees were standing.

Longfellow.

Knee"-high` (?), a. Rising or reaching upward to the knees; as, the water is knee- high.

Knee"joint` (?), n. 1. The joint of the knee.

2. (Mach.) A toggle joint; -- so called because consisting of two pieces jointed to each other end to end, making an angle like the knee when bent.

Knee"joint`ed, a. (Bot.) Geniculate; kneed. See Kneed, a., 2.

Kneel (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knelt (?) or Kneeled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Kneeling.] [OE. knelen, cneolien; akin to D. knielen, Dan. knæle. See Knee.] To bend the knee; to fall or rest on the knees; -- sometimes with down.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.

Acts vii. 60.

As soon as you are dressed, kneel and say the Lord's Prayer.

Jer. Taylor.

Kneel"er (?), n. 1. One who kneels or who worships by or while kneeling. Tennyson.

2. A cushion or stool to kneel on.

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..

2. A sword or dagger.

The coward conquest of a wretch's knife.

Shak.

Knife grass (Bot.) a tropical American sedge (Scleria latifolia), having leaves with a very sharp and hard edge, like a knife. -- War to the knife, mortal combat; a conflict carried to the last extremity.

Knife, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knifed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Knifing (?).] 1. (Hort.) To prune with the knife.

2. To cut or stab with a knife. [Low]

Knife"board` (?), n. A board on which knives are cleaned or polished.

Knife"-edge` (?), n. (Mech.) A piece of steel sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the axis of motion of a pendulum, scale beam, or other piece required to oscillate with the least possible friction.

Knife-edge file. See Illust. of File.

Knight (?), n. [OE. knight, cniht, knight, soldier, As. cniht, cneoht, a boy, youth, attendant, military follower; akin to D. & G. knecht servant; perh. akin to E. kin.] 1. A young servant or follower; a military attendant. [Obs.]

2. (a) In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life. (b) One on whom knighthood, a dignity next below that of baronet, is conferred by the sovereign, entitling him to be addressed as Sir; as, Sir John. [Eng.] Hence: (c) A champion; a partisan; a lover. "Give this ring to my true knight." Shak "In all your quarrels will I be your knight." Tennyson.

Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies' harms.

Shak.

Formerly, when a knight's name was not known, it was customary to address him as Sir Knight. The rank of a knight is not hereditary.

3. A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head.

4. A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack. [Obs.]

Carpet knight. See under Carpet. -- Knight of industry. See Chevalier d'industrie, under Chevalier. -- Knight of Malta, Knight of Rhodes, Knight of St. John of Jerusalem. See Hospitaler. - - Knight of the post, one who gained his living by giving false evidence on trials, or false bail; hence, a sharper in general. Nares. "A knight of the post, . . . quoth he, for so I am termed; a fellow that will swear you anything for twelve pence." Nash. -- Knight of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a county in Parliament, in distinction from the representatives of cities and boroughs. -- Knights commanders, Knights grand cross, different classes of the Order of the Bath. See under Bath, and Companion. Knights of labor, a secret organization whose professed purpose is to secure and maintain the rights of workingmen as respects their relations to their employers. [U. S.] -- Knights of Pythias, a secret order, founded in Washington, d.C., in 1864, for social and charitable purposes. - - Knights of the Round Table, knights belonging to an order which, according to the legendary accounts, was instituted by the mythical King Arthur. They derived their common title from the table around which they sat on certain solemn days. Brande & C.

Knight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knighting.] To dub or create (one) a knight; -- done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir ---.

A soldier, by the honor-giving hand Of C&?;ur-de-Lion knighted in the field.

Shak.

Knight"age (?), n. The body of knights, taken collectively.

Knight" bach"e*lor (?); pl. Knights bachelors (&?;). A knight of the most ancient, but lowest, order of English knights, and not a member of any order of chivalry. See Bachelor, 4.

Knight" ban"ner*et (?); pl. Knights bannerets. A knight who carried a banner, who possessed fiefs to a greater amount than the knight bachelor, and who was obliged to serve in war with a greater number of attendants. The dignity was sometimes conferred by the sovereign in person on the field of battle.

Knight" bar"o*net (?). See Baronet.

Knight"-er`rant (?), n.; pl. Knight-errants, or Knights- errant. A wandering knight; a knight who traveled in search of adventures, for the purpose of exhibiting military skill, prowess, and generosity.

Knight"-er`rant*ry (?), n.; pl. Knight-errantries (&?;). The character or actions of wandering knights; the practice of wandering in quest of adventures; chivalry; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme.

The rigid guardian [i. e., conscience] of a blameless heart Is weak with rank knight-erratries o'errun.

Young.

Knight"-er-rat"ic (?), a. Pertaining to a knight-errant or to knight-errantry. [R.] Quart. Rev.

Knight"head` (?), n. (Naut.) A bollard timber. See under Bollard.

Knight"hood (?), n. [Knight + hood: cf. AS. chihthd youth.] 1. The character, dignity, or condition of a knight, or of knights as a class; hence, chivalry. "O shame to knighthood." Shak.

If you needs must write, write Cæsar's praise; You 'll gain at least a knighthood, or the bays.

Pope.

2. The whole body of knights.

The knighthood nowadays are nothing like the knighthood of old time.

Chapman.

"When the order of knighthood was conferred with full solemnity in the leisure of a court or court or city, imposing preliminary ceremonies were required of the candidate. He prepared himself by prayer and fasting, watched his arms at night in a chapel, and was then admitted with the performance of religious rites. Knighthood was conferred by the accolade, which, from the derivation of the name, would appear to have been originally an embrace; but afterward consisted, as it still does, in a blow of the flat of a sword on the back of the kneeling candidate." Brande & C.

Knight"less, a. Unbecoming a knight. [Obs.] "Knightless guile." Spenser.

Knight"li*ness (?), n. The character or bearing suitable for a knight; chivalry. Spenser.

Knight`ly, a. [AS. cnihtlic boyish.] Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit.

For knightly jousts and fierce encounters fit.

Spenser.

[Excuses] full knightly without scorn.

Tennyson.

Knight"ly, adv. In a manner becoming a knight.

And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms.

Shak.

Knight" mar"shal (?). (Eng. Law) An officer in the household of the British sovereign, who has cognizance of transgressions within the royal household and verge, and of contracts made there, a member of the household being one of the parties. Wharton.

Knight" serv"ice (?). (Eng. Feud. Law) A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service. See Chivalry, n., 4.

Knight" Tem"plar (?); pl. Knights Templars (&?;). See Commandery, n., 3, and also Templar, n., 1 and 3.

Knit (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Knit or Knitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Knitting.] [OE. knitten, knutten, As. cnyttan, fr. cnotta knot; akin to Icel. kn&?;ta, Sw. knyta, Dan. knytte. See Knot.] 1. To form into a knot, or into knots; to tie together, as cord; to fasten by tying.

A great sheet knit at the four corners.

Acts x. 11.

When your head did but ache, I knit my handkercher about your brows.

Shak.

2. To form, as a textile fabric, by the interlacing of yarn or thread in a series of connected loops, by means of needles, either by hand or by machinery; as, to knit stockings.

3. To join; to cause to grow together.

Nature can not knit the bones while the parts are under a discharge.

Wiseman.

4. To unite closely; to connect; to engage; as, hearts knit together in love.

Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit.

Shak.

Come , knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastic round.

Milton.

A link among the days, toknit The generations each to each.

Tennyson.

5. To draw together; to contract into wrinkles.

He knits his brow and shows an angry eye.

Shak.

Knit, v. i. 1. To form a fabric by interlacing yarn or thread; to weave by making knots or loops.

2. To be united closely; to grow together; as, broken bones will in time knit and become sound.

To knit up, to wind up; to conclude; to come to a close. "It remaineth to knit up briefly with the nature and compass of the seas." [Obs.] Holland.

Knit, n. Union knitting; texture. Shak.

Knit"back` (?), n. (Bot.) The plant comfrey; -- so called from its use as a restorative. Dr. Prier.

{ Knitch (?), Knitch"et (?), } n. [Cf. Knit.] A number of things tied or knit together; a bundle; a fagot. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

When they [stems of asphodel] be dried, they ought to be made up into knitchets, or handfuls.

Holland.

Knits (?), n. pl. [Prob. same word as nit a louse's egg.] (Mining) Small particles of ore. Raymond.

Knit"ster (?), n. A woman who knits. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Knit"ter (?), n. One who, or that which, knits, joins, or unites; a knitting machine. Shak.

Knit"ting (?), n. 1. The work of a knitter; the network formed by knitting.

2. Union formed by knitting, as of bones.

Knitting machine, one of a number of contrivances for mechanically knitting stockings, jerseys, and the like. -- Knitting &?;eedle, a stiff rod, as of steel wire, with rounded ends for knitting yarn or threads into a fabric, as in stockings. -- Knitting sheath, a sheath to receive the end of a needle in knitting.

Knit"tle (?), n. [From Knit.] 1. A string that draws together a purse or bag. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

2. pl. (Naut.) See Nettles.

Knives (?), n. pl. of Knife. See Knife.

Knob (?), n. [A modification of knop. Cf. Nob.] 1. A hard protuberance; a hard swelling or rising; a bunch; a lump; as, a knob in the flesh, or on a bone.

2. A knoblike ornament or handle; as, the knob of a lock, door, or drawer. Chaucer.

3. A rounded hill or mountain; as, the Pilot Knob. [U. S.] Bartlett.

4. (Arch.) See Knop.

Knob latch, a latch which can be operated by turning a knob, without using a key.

Knob, v. i. To grow into knobs or bunches; to become knobbed. [Obs.] Drant.

Knobbed (?), a. Containing knobs; full of knobs; ending in a nob. See Illust of Antenna.

The horns of a roe deer of Greenland are pointed at the top, and knobbed or tuberous at the bottom.

Grew.

Knob"ber (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Knobbler.

Knob"bing (?), n. (Stone Quarrying) Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections.

Knob"bler, n. (Zoöl.) The hart in its second year; a young deer. [Written also knobber.] Halliwell.

He has hallooed the hounds upon a velvet-headed knobbler.

Sir W. Scott.

Knob"bling fire (?). A bloomery fire. See Bloomery.

Knob"by, a. [From Knob.] 1. Full of, or covered with, knobs or hard protuberances. Dr. H. More.

2. Irregular; stubborn in particulars. [Obs.]

The informers continued in a knobby kind of obstinacy.

Howell.

3. Abounding in rounded hills or mountains; hilly. [U.S.] Bartlett.

Knob"stick` (?), n. One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trades union. [Cant, Eng.]

Knock (nk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knocked (nkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Knocking.] [OE. knoken, AS. cnocian, cnucian; prob. of imitative origin; cf. Sw. knacka. Cf. Knack.] 1. To drive or be driven against something; to strike against something; to clash; as, one heavy body knocks against another. Bacon.

2. To strike or beat with something hard or heavy; to rap; as, to knock with a club; to knock on the door.

For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked.

Dryden.

Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Matt. vii. 7.