Knick-knack, nik′-nak, n. a trifle or toy.—n. Knick′-knack′ery, knick-knacks collectively. [A doubling of knack.]
Knife, nīf, n. an instrument for cutting: a sword or dagger:—pl. Knives (nīvz).—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, nīt, 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.]