Middle English Dictionary Entry
knak(ke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | knak(ke n. Also knacke, gnacke. |
| Etymology | Cp. knakken v. & Du. knak n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An equivocation; deception; stratagem, trick; (b) a joke; (c) knakkes and moues, jeers and grimaces; a ~ and a moue, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Rv.(Hrl 7334)A.4051 : For all here sleight and al here philosophie, The more queynte knakkes þat þey make, The more wol I stele whan I take.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Curates (Corp-C 296)156 : He þat can cracke a litil latyn..& can helpe to anoie a pore man bi knackis or chapitris, is holden a noble clerk.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.3 TDWorld (Corp-C 296)184 : Coueitous laweieris wiþ here gnackis & iapis, delaies, excusacions, & fals appelis.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1531 : And where þis bribour haþ no [peny] payed In oure office, he seiþ be-hynde our bak, 'He payde I not what'; þus ben we bytrayed And disclaundrid..& eeke by swiche a knak Þe man for whom þe suyte is, is deceyued.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1033 : She ne used no suche knakkes smale.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)139/4155 : Who so þat good hede on yow took To doon ou haue of hit plesaunce, What wise ye suche lewde knakkis askaunce, On ou al day to gase and loke.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.652 : Looke how that vertuouse wordes and holy conforten hem that trauaillen in the seruyse of Crist, right so conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes [vr. knakis] of iaperis hem that trauaillen in the seruice of the deuel.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1395 : Al þis þat I haue of fortune seyde, Is but a iape, who seith, or a knak; Now I a while bourdyd haue & pleyde.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)56/4 : And after ben þe iapes and knakkes ful of filþe and of lesynges, and þes men clepen ydel wordes.
c
- c1390 Frenschipe faileþ (Vrn)53 : Þer is more treuþe in an hounde Þen in sum mon, I vnderstonde; Knackes & mowes þei han In honde, Witterli to plese þe fende.
- c1475(?a1440) Burgh Cato(1) (Rwl C.48)690 : Dispreise nomanys deedis nor hem lakke, Ne woordes nother; For even so riht As thou deprauyst hym, byhynde thy bakke Riht so wol men make the a mowe [vrr. mokke, moppe] and a knakke.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.467 : Yf thyn enemy..wold..al thy werkis turne and ouerthrowe, And make therof Iape, knacke, and a mowe.
- c1475 Symon Lesson (Bod 832)65 : Chyld, make þou no mowys ne knakkes Be-fore no men, ne by-hynd here bakkes, But be of fayre semelaunt and contenaunce.
2.
A blow.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4599 : Char[lis] lokedem be-hynde ys bak, And saw dele þar many a knak, & myche noyse make.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)7804 : He smot the best vpon the bak And ȝaff him right an euel knak.