Knockabout Knock"a·bout` noun 1. (Nautical) A small yacht, generally from fifteen to twenty- five feet in length, having a mainsail and a jib. All knockabouts have ballast and either a keel or centerboard. The original type was twenty-one feet in length. The next larger type is called a raceabout .

2. A knockabout performer or performance. [ Theat. Slang]

3. A man hired on a sheep station to do odd jobs. [ Colloq., Australia]

Knockabout Knock"a·bout` adjective 1. Marked by knocking about or roughness.

2. Of noisy and violent character. [ Theat. Slang]

3. Characterized by, or suitable for, knocking about, or traveling or wandering hither and thither.

4. That does odd jobs; -- said of a class of hands or laborers on a sheep station. [ Collog., Australia]

Knockdown Knock"down` noun A felling by a knock, as of a combatant, or of an animal.

Knockdown Knock"down` adjective Of force sufficient to fell or completely overthrow; as, a knockdown blow; a knockdown argument. [ Colloq.]

Knockdown Knock"down` adjective 1. Of such force as to fell or overthrow; overwhelming; as, a knockdown blow.

2. Designating a rivet end to be formed into a head by upsetting in fastening.

3. Of or pertaining to the act of knocking down at an auction; specif., designating the price below which an article will not be disposed by the auctioneer.

4. Made or constructed so as to be capable of being knocked down or taken apart, as for transportation.

Knockdown Knock"down` noun 1. That which knocks one down; something that overpowers or overwhelms, as strong liquor; specif., a kind of ale or beer that is very strong. [ Slang.]

2. A knocking down; a felling by a knock; a blow that overwhelms; also, a fist fight.

3. Something that knocks down, or takes apart, for packing or removal, as a piece of furniture; also, state of being knocked down, or taken apart.

Knocker Knock"er noun One who, or that which, knocks; specifically, an instrument, or kind of hammer, fastened to a door, to be used in seeking for admittance.

Shut, shut the door, good John ! fatigued, I said;
Tie up the knocker ; say I'm sick, I'm dead.

Pope.

Knocker Knock"er noun 1. A person strikingly handsome, beautiful, or fine; one who wins admiration; a "stunner." [ Slang.]

2. A species of large cockroach, esp. Blabera gigantea , of semitropical America, which is able to produce a loud knocking sound.

Knocking Knock"ing noun A beating; a rap; a series of raps.

The . . . repeated knockings of the head upon the ground by the Chinese worshiper.

H. Spencer.

Knockings Knock"ings noun plural (Mining) Large lumps picked out of the sieve, in dressing ore.

Knockstone Knock"stone` noun (Mining) A block upon which ore is broken up.

Knoll Knoll noun [ Anglo-Saxon cnoll ; akin to German knolle , knollen , clod, lump, knob, bunch, OD. knolle ball, bunch, Swedish knöl , Danish knold .] A little round hill; a mound; a small elevation of earth; the top or crown of a hill.

On knoll or hillock rears his crest,
Lonely and huge, the giant oak.

Sir W. Scott.

Knoll Knoll transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Knolled ; present participle & verbal noun Knolling .] [ Middle English knollen , Anglo-Saxon cnyllan . See Knell .] To ring, as a bell; to strike a knell upon; to toll; to proclaim, or summon, by ringing. " Knolled to church." Shak.

Heavy clocks knolling the drowsy hours.

Tennyson.

Knoll Knoll intransitive verb To sound, as a bell; to knell. Shak.

For a departed being's soul
The death hymn peals, and the hollow bells knoll .

Byron.

Knoll Knoll noun The tolling of a bell; a knell. [ R.] Byron.

Knoller Knoll"er noun One who tolls a bell. [ Obsolete] Sherwood.

Knop Knop noun [ Middle English knop , knoppe ; confer Dutch knop , knoop , German knopf , Danish knap , knop , Swedish knapp , knopp , button, bud, Icelandic knappr , and English knap , noun Confer Knap , Knob .] 1. A knob; a bud; a bunch; a button.

Four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.

Ex. xxv. 21.

2. (Architecture) Any boldly projecting sculptured ornament; esp., the ornamental termination of a pinnacle, and then synonymous with finial ; -- called also knob , and knosp .

Knop sedge (Botany) , the bur reed ( Sparganium ); -- so called from its globular clusters of seed vessels. Prior.

Knopped Knopped adjective Having knops or knobs; fastened as with buttons. [ Obsolete] Rom. of R.

Knoppern Knop"pern noun [ Confer German knopper . See Knop .] (Zoology) A kind of gall produced by a gallfly on the cup of an acorn, -- used in tanning and dyeing.

Knopweed Knop"weed` noun Same as Knapweed .

Knor Knor noun See Knur . [ Obsolete]

Knosp Knosp noun [ Confer German knospe bud, English knop , knar .] (Architecture) Same as Knop ,2. Milman.

Knot Knot noun [ Middle English knot , knotte , Anglo-Saxon cnotta ; akin to Dutch knot , Old High German chnodo , chnoto , German knoten , Icelandic kn...tr , Swedish knut , Danish knude , and perhaps to Latin nodus . Confer Knout , Knit .] 1. (a) A fastening together of the pars or ends of one or more threads, cords, ropes, etc., by any one of various ways of tying or entangling. (b) A lump or loop formed in a thread, cord, rope. etc., as at the end, by tying or interweaving it upon itself. (c) An ornamental tie, as of a ribbon.

» The names of knots vary according to the manner of their making, or the use for which they are intended; as, dow knot, reef knot, stopper knot, diamond knot, etc.

2. A bond of union; a connection; a tie. "With nuptial knot ." Shak.

Ere we knit the knot that can never be loosed.

Bp. Hall.

3. Something not easily solved; an intricacy; a difficulty; a perplexity; a problem.

Knots worthy of solution.

Cowper.

A man shall be perplexed with knots , and problems of business, and contrary affairs.

South.

4. A figure the lines of which are interlaced or intricately interwoven, as in embroidery, gardening, etc. "Garden knots ." Bacon.

Flowers worthy of paradise, which, not nice art
In beds and curious knots , but nature boon
Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain.

Milton.

5. A cluster of persons or things; a collection; a group; a hand; a clique; as, a knot of politicians. " Knots of talk." Tennyson.

His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries.

Shak.

Palms in cluster, knots of Paradise.

Tennyson.

As they sat together in small, separate knots , they discussed doctrinal and metaphysical points of belief.

Sir W. Scott.

6. A portion of a branch of a tree that forms a mass of woody fiber running at an angle with the grain of the main stock and making a hard place in the timber. A loose knot is generally the remains of a dead branch of a tree covered by later woody growth.

7. A knob, lump, swelling, or protuberance.

With lips serenely placid, felt the knot
Climb in her throat.

Tennyson.

8. A protuberant joint in a plant.

9. The point on which the action of a story depends; the gist of a matter. [ Obsolete]

I shoulde to the knotte condescend,
And maken of her walking soon an end.

Chaucer.

10. (Mech.) See Node .

11. (Nautical) (a) A division of the log line, serving to measure the rate of the vessel's motion. Each knot on the line bears the same proportion to a mile that thirty seconds do to an hour. The number of knots which run off from the reel in half a minute, therefore, shows the number of miles the vessel sails in an hour. Hence: (b) A nautical mile, or 6080.27 feet; as, when a ship goes eight miles an hour, her speed is said to be eight knots .

12. A kind of epaulet. See Shoulder knot .

13. (Zoology) A sandpiper ( Tringa canutus ), found in the northern parts of all the continents, in summer. It is grayish or ashy above, with the rump and upper tail coverts white, barred with dusky. The lower parts are pale brown, with the flanks and under tail coverts white. When fat it is prized by epicures. Called also dunne .

» The name is said to be derived from King Canute, this bird being a favorite article of food with him.

The knot that called was Canutus' bird of old,
Of that great king of Danes his name that still doth hold,
His appetite to please that far and near was sought.

Drayton.

Knot Knot transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Knotted ; present participle & verbal noun Knotting .] 1. To tie in or with, or form into, a knot or knots; to form a knot on, as a rope; to entangle. " Knotted curls." Drayton.

As tight as I could knot the noose.

Tennyson.

2. To unite closely; to knit together. Bacon.

3. To entangle or perplex; to puzzle. [ Obsolete or R.]

Knot Knot intransitive verb 1. To form knots or joints, as in a cord, a plant, etc.; to become entangled.

Cut hay when it begins to knot .

Mortimer.

2. To knit knots for fringe or trimming.

3. To copulate; -- said of toads. [ R.] Shak.

Knotberry Knot"ber`ry noun (Botany) The cloudberry ( Rudus Chamæmorus ); -- so called from its knotted stems.

Knotgrass Knot"grass` noun (Botany) (a) a common weed with jointed stems (Polygonum aviculare) ; knotweed. (b) The dog grass. See under Dog .

» An infusion of Polygonum aviculare was once supposed to have the effect of stopping the growth of an animal, and hence it was called, as by Shakespeare, "hindering knotgrass ."

We want a boy extremely for this function,
Kept under for a year with milk and knotgrass .

Beau. & Fl.

Knotless Knot"less adjective Free from knots; without knots. "Silver firs with knotless trunks." Congreve.

Knotted Knot"ted adjective 1. Full of knots; having knots; knurled; as, a knotted cord; the knotted oak. Dryden.

2. Interwoven; matted; entangled.

Make . . . thy knotted and combined locks to part.

Shak.

3. Having intersecting lines or figures.

The west corner of thy curious knotted garden.

Shak.

4. (Geol.) Characterized by small, detached points, chiefly composed of mica, less decomposable than the mass of the rock, and forming knots in relief on the weathered surface; as, knotted rocks. Percival.

5. Entangled; puzzling; knotty. [ R.]

They're catched in knotted lawlike nets.

Hudibras.

Knottiness Knot"ti·ness noun [ From Knotty .] 1. The quality or state of being knotty or full of knots.

2. Difficulty of solution; intricacy; complication. " Knottiness of his style." Hare.

Knotty Knot"ty adjective [ Compar. Knottier ; superl. Knottiest .] 1. Full of knots; knotted; having many knots; as, knotty timber; a knotty rope.

2. Hard; rugged; as, a knotty head. [ R.] Rewe.

3. Difficult; intricate; perplexed.

A knotty point to which we now proceed

Pope.

Knotweed Knot"weed` (nŏt"wēd`) noun (Botany) See Knotgrass .

Knotwort Knot"wort` (-wûrt`) noun (Botany) A small, herbaceous, trailing plant, of the genus Illecebrum ( I. verticillatum ).

Knout Knout (nout or nōt) noun [ Russian knut' ; probably of Scand. origin; confer Swedish knut knot, knout, Icelandic knūtr knot: confer French knout . See Knot .] A kind of whip for flogging criminals, formerly much used in Russia. The lash is a tapering bundle of leather thongs twisted with wire and hardened, so that it mangles the flesh.

Knout Knout transitive verb To punish with the knout. Brougham.

Know Know (nō) noun Knee. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Know Know (nō) transitive verb [ imperfect Knew (nū); past participle Known (nōn); present participle & verbal noun Knowing .] [ Middle English knowen , knawen , Anglo-Saxon cnäwan ; akin to Old High German chnäan (in comp.), Icelandic knä to be able, Russian znate to know, Latin gnoscere , noscere , Greek gighw`skein , Sanskrit jnā ; from the root of English can , intransitive verb , ken . √45. See Ken , Can to be able, and confer Acquaint , Cognition , Gnome , Ignore , Noble , Note .] 1. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty.

O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!

Shak.

There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it.

Dryden.

Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong.

Longfellow.

2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.

3. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization.

He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.

2 Cor. v. 21.

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.

Milton.

4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure.

Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Matt. vil. 16.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.

Luke xxiv. 31.

To know
Faithful friend from flattering foe.

Shak.

At nearer view he thought he knew the dead.

Flatman.

5. To have sexual commerce with.

And Adam knew Eve his wife.

Gen. iv. 1.

» Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc.

And I knew that thou hearest me always.

John xi. 42.

The monk he instantly knew to be the prior.

Sir W. Scott.

In other hands I have known money do good.

Dickens.

To know how , to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted. " If we fear to die, or know not to be patient." Jer. Taylor.

Know Know intransitive verb 1. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often with of .

Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider.

Is. i. 3.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John vii. 17.

The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn.

Tylor.

2. To be assured; to feel confident.

To know of , to ask, to inquire. [ Obsolete] " Know of your youth, examine well your blood." Shak.

Know-all Know"-all` noun One who knows everything; hence, one who makes pretension to great knowledge; a wiseacre; -- usually ironical. [ Colloq. or R.]

Know-nothing Know"-noth`ing noun A member of a secret political organization in the United States, the chief objects of which were the proscription of foreigners by the repeal of the naturalization laws, and the exclusive choice of native Americans for office.

» The party originated in 1853, and existed for about three years. The members of it were called Know-nothings , because they replied "I don't know," to any questions asked them in reference to the party.

Know-nothingism Know"-noth`ing·ism noun The doctrines, principles, or practices, of the Know-nothings.

Knowa bleness Know"a· ble·ness noun The state or quality of being knowable. Locke.

Knowable Know"a·ble adjective That may be known; capable of being discovered, understood, or ascertained.

Thus mind and matter, as known or knowable , are only two different series of phenomena or qualities.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Knower Know"er noun One who knows. Shak.

Knowing Know"ing adjective 1. Skilful; well informed; intelligent; as, a knowing man; a knowing dog.

The knowing and intelligent part of the world.

South.

2. Artful; cunning; as, a knowing rascal. [ Colloq.]

Knowing Know"ing noun Knowledge; hence, experience. " In my knowing ." Shak.

This sore night
Hath trifled former knowings .

Shak.

Knowingly Know"ing·ly adverb 1. With knowledge; in a knowing manner; intelligently; consciously; deliberately; as, he would not knowingly offend. Strype.

2. By experience. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Knowingness Know"ing·ness noun The state or quality of being knowing or intelligent; shrewdness; skillfulness.

Knowleche Knowl"eche noun & v. [ Obsolete] See Knowledge .

We consider and knowleche that we have offended.

Chaucer.

Knowleching Knowl"ech·ing noun Knowledge. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

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