Middle English Dictionary Entry
knāve n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | knāve n.(1) Also cnave, knafe, cnafe, knaf(fe, knafve, knawe, (errors) cuave, kanue, nave, (in cpds. only) kna-, knav-, knaw-, (early) cneave, (early sg. dat.) cnaven; pl. knaves, etc. & knaven(e, cnaven, knave. |
| Etymology | OE cnafa (?Merc. *cneafa), infl. cnafan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A male infant; male offspring, son; (b) a boy, lad; (c) a young man, man, male; -- also as a familiar term of address [quot.: ?a1300].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)293 : Þa þe time com þat þe cnaue [Otho: childe] wes iboren.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)718 : Aftur eiȝte and twenti dawes fourme it bi-gynnez to nyme, So þat In-with fourti dawes it haueth euerech lime, And in lasse ȝif it is a knaue, for he is of more hete.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1151 : He haueð ðe dede wrogt, And on eiðer here a knaue bi-geten.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)115 : Mid schilde i wot þat þou schalt be, Siker ich wot hit worht a knaue.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)21/37 : For ȝif man it myȝte make, he wolde make his children..knaue children & maydenes, when he wolde & as he wolde; Þat he doiþ noȝt, ffor when he wolde haue a knaue, he haþ a mayden; when he wolde haue a faire, he haþ a foule.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.54 : He toke vppe the ladi, and the litulle knaue, And to Sir Amadace ther he hom gaue.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13854 : He hade a child..was a chere sone..And none wist hit, I-wis, but his wale moder, Þat consayuit of the kyng & a knave bere.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)592 : Folke, quen we ere fay worthid, May sitt & carpe, slike a knaue þaire last kyng hade.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3744 : If any consaue þar a knaf, þan kepis him his modire vij ȝere with-in oure-selfe & sendis him his fadir.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1908 : Yonder is a liberd with a child, A mayden or a knave.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)134/554 : Syr, oure lady hym saue! Is youre chyld a knaue?
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15559 : Þas cnihtes..bi-heolden þas cnauen [Otho: cnaues]; Vmben ane stunde heo bigunnen striuinge, al-se hit wes auer laȝe imong childrene plæȝe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15595 : Heo..neodeliche ȝerden of þissere uncuðe talen þe heo iherden of þan cnauen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15605 : We..habbeoð her ifunde enne cnaue ȝunge; he is ihaten Merlin.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28590 : Þer to him com a cnaue, þe wes of his cunne.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)409 : Þe erl dede sone take þe knaue, Hauelok.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)481 : But þe kaue [read: knaue], þat litel was, He knelede bifor þat iudas.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2394 : He wold abide wiþ þe barn, þe bliþer hem to make, In hope þei schuld of him hent þe litel knaue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1500 : In al the hous ther nas so litel a knaue, Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn That my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10267 : Þe lagh..Biclepis þat man for maledight þat has na barn, ne mai ne knaue [Göt: knawe].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)278 : Knave: Garcio.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)283 : Ladde, or knave: Garcio.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2501 : A ball & a hernepan I to þe barne sent, For burde & for bobance, þe bab with to play; Him þat I countid bot a knaue [Dub: knaffe] may now be cald maistir.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14802 : He wes milde ælche cnafe & tahte þan folke godes læȝe.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)201 : Blesse þe, blesse þe, leue knaue, Leste þou mesauenter haue.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2177 : Þou þu be yet a ful yung knaue, Þou shalt be king of al denemark.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1688 : Ȝyf a man haue houe a chylde, God hyt euer forbede and shylde Þat þat chylde shulde any haue Of hys godfadrys, maydyn or knaue.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7353 : Þe fyrst ys fornycacyon, whan two vnweddyd haue mysdon, As sengle knaue and sengle tarne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6845 : And yee sal rest þe seuend dai, Ox and ass, womman and knaue, þat dai sal þai resting haue.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A rage of Maydnes. A rascalle of boyes. A rafle of knaues.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms54 : A Rafulle of cnavys.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)5799 : With that he sawe a knaue [Auch: grom] comyng..That a grete staffe on his shulder bare.
2.
(a) A servant, attendant, page; messenger; also fig.; (b) a stableboy, groom [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (a)]; (c) a kitchen boy, cook's servant, scullion; cokes (kichene) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)967 : Þe knaue [vr. page] was wel bliþe & hiȝede aȝen bliue.
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.47 : I þolede þe and [dude] as mad To be maister and i þi cnave [vr. knaue].
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)25297 : Arthur..his wonder riche and his cnihtes bolde; þar his euerech cnaue [Clg: swein] ase he cniht were.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.33 : On of his serjantz sat aniȝt the while that men woke, In his in at Canterbury, the chambre forto loke; In theveninge he bad his knave the dore to steke faste.
- c1300 SLeg.Kath.(LdMisc 108)76 : On of heore knaue [Hrl: oure knaues] miȝten sone hire resones alle a-quenche!
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)29 : Whose rykeneþ wiþ knaues huere coustage, þe luþernesse of þe ladde, þe prude of þe page, þah he ȝeue hem cattes dryt to huere companage, ȝet hym shulde a-rewen of þe arrerage.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)120/2546 : 'Sire,' ȝhe seide, 'so god þe saue, Let him liuen & ben our knaue'..Þar a dede Beues omage, And becom is owene page.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)412 : Þe Erl..ȝaf him..a palefrai to riden an, And a knaue to ben his man.
- c1390 I warne vche (Vrn)89 : Þi neiȝhebors hous, wenche, ne knaue [vr. knawe], Vnskilfully coueyte þou nouht.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.474 : Who saued Danyel in the horrible caue, Ther euery wight saue he, maister and knaue, Was with the leoun frete er he asterte?
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3087 : By goddes bones, whan I bete my knaues, She bryngeth me the grete clobbed staues.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.114 : I am hadd and noght ne have, And am, as who seith, loves knave.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Giezi (Phys-E)p.131 : Bot he hafd an vnseli knafe [rime: gafe], That wald gladli katel haue.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3153 : He bad cum wit him knaues tua, Bot þai ne wist guider þai suld ga.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11598 : By nyȝt he [Joseph] went out of toun Wiþ marie mylde & her meyne, A mayden & also knaues [Vsp: suanis] þre Þat þenne were in her seruyse.
- a1400 Prov.Wisd.(Bod 9)22 : To erlyche mayster, þe lenger [vr. sonner] knave.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2507 : Þere nas knaue ne quystroun Þat ne had his warisoun.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.160 : Cisse þe soutere sat on þe bench..Symme þe tynkere & tweyne of his knaues [vrr. knawes, knaffes].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.310 : But if his knaue knele, þat shal his cuppe brynge, He loureth on hym and axeth hym who tauȝte hym curteisye.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.40 : Qui turpiloquium loquitur ys lucyfers knaue [A,B: hyne].
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)1974 : Þey slowe þe childre in þe cadir, And alle þey bleden sweyn and knaue.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2621 : Knyghte was I neuer With þe kydde conquerour, a knafe of his chambyre..I poyne all his pavelyouns..Dyghttes his dowblettez for dukes and erles.
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)55 : Er thy soule be fendes knaue, Knowe thy self.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.47 : To alle that ther wold seruyse haue, Knyȝte, squiere, ȝoman, and knaue, Iche mon in thayre degre.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)737 : Knyȝte, squyer, ȝoman, ne knaue, Hom lacket noȝte þat þay schuld haue.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)232/9 : 'A,' sayde sir Priamus, 'and his knavys be so kene, his knyghtes ar passynge good.'
- a1475 Ordin.Househ.Grossetest (Sln 1986)216 : Commaunde ȝe that ȝoure almys be kepyd, & not sende not to boys and knafis, nother in the halle nothe oute of þe halle.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)2093 : Fro þe galowse sche borowed me, For y schulde hur knave haue bee And serue hur to hur paye.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)21/422 : I commaund you..That no man at thame fynd fawt ne blame..Nowther with hym nor with his knafe.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)359 : Knyghtys and erlys y haue forsake, That wolde me to wyfe take; And y loued now a yong knaue, How schulde y my worschyp save?
b
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)17 : Y ryme..of..harlotes, horsknaues..Þe knaue crommeþ is crop er þe bok crawe; he momeleþe & moccheþ ant marreþ is mawe.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)262/38 : 'Lord,' he þouhte, 'wher I schal haue Boþe sadel and Bridel and þe knaue?'
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.17 : 'I schal araye me to Ride,' quod Reson..And clepte Caton, his knaue [vrr. knawe, kanue].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4303 : Þe knaues graiþen her hors and shrubben, And þe kniȝttes her bodyes dubben.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)70/13 : Machomete was borne in Araby, and first he was a pouer knafe [F garcioun] þat keped hors and camelles.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1807 : I shal in the stable slen thy knave.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)212 : Launfal dyȝte hys courser Withoute knaue oþer squyer.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13717 : Heo..to þan inne wende..& sloȝen heore sweines & heore burh-þeines, heore cokes & heore cnaues.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)193/3 : Beon bliðe iheortet ȝef ȝe þolieð danger of sluri, þe cokes cneaue [Tit: cnaue; Nero: knaue], þe wescheð & wipeð disches i cuchene.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1123 : Þe shal spusen mi cokes knaue.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.104 : Cookis & here knaues [vrr. knaffys, knawys] crieþ, 'hote pyes, hote!'
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)116 : For þou myghte no childir haue, Scho hase takyne thy kokes knaue.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)309/9,13 : This is but a kychyn knave that was brought up for almys in kynge Arthurs courte..this knave hathe slayne your brother.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)122 : The kokes knaue, þat turneþ þe spyte, Upon þy wyf he hath begete On of þo two.
3.
(a) A commoner, peasant, laborer; knaves werkes, menial tasks; knight (lord) and ~, knight (lord) and commoner, everyone; knight nor (lord ne) ~, knight (lord) nor commoner, no one; (b) a foot soldier; knight and ~, yemen and knaves, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)458 : We ne haue Herinne neyther knith ne knaue Þat yeueth us drinken.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4248 : Sarrazins were comen..& hadde neiȝe strued al þat lond..Boþe wiþ fer & wiþ sword; Spard þai noiþer knaue no lord.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.44 : Bidders and Beggers faste aboute eoden..In Glotonye, God wot, gon heo to Bedde, And ryseth vp wiþ ribaudye, þis Roberdes knaues [vrr. knafvys, hewyn, hyne].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.188 : Namoore reuerence shal be doon there to a kyng than to a knaue.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1782 : That thei ne scholden no lif save, Ne prest ne clerc ne lord ne knave.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.201 : Ther is no certein forto winne, For lord and knave al is o weie, Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1836-7 : A king mai spille, a king mai save; A king mai make of lord a knave, And of a knave a lord also.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)166 : A coupe good and ryche, In al þe world was none it lyche..He þat it made was no knave.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.51 : For in charnel atte chirche, cherles ben yuel to knowe, Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.54 : Men sholde constreyne no clerke to knauene [vr. knaues] werkes, For by lawe of leuitici..Clerkes..Sholde noþer swynke ne swete.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)137 : For non so proude that dar me denye, Knyght nor knaue, Chanon, prest, ne nonne.
- a1425 Shrewsbury Frag.(Shrw 6)3/5 : He þat men wend schuld by All Israel, bothe knyght & knaue, Why suffred he so forto dy?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2637 : Whethire thowe be knyghte or knaffe, knawe now þe sothe.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)506 : Ther may no lord tak vp no newe gyse, But þat a knaue shal þe same vp take.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)121/100 : Sen I am but a symple knave, Þof all I come of curtayse kynne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)301/264 : Nowe sen he comes as a knave, and as a knave cledde, Wherto calle ye hym a kyng?
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11375 : A knaue also, by hys werkyng, Sholde ben Egal wyth the kyng.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)3 : Yf thow be gentylmon, ȝomon, or knaue, The nedis nurture for to haue.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.46 : Thou were nevere scarce to knyȝt nor knave.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)28/173 : I thank the, lord so dere, that wold vowch sayf Thus low to appere to a symple knafe.
- a1500 Salamon sat (Cmb Gg.1.32)18 : War a man als pouer as jop, & had happe to the, & sudanly war waxin riche..Envyus men wald..say offt amanges þam, 'qwat was he bot a knaue?'
- a1500 Throwe a towne (Trin-C O.9.38)24 : And yff thow be curteyse and free, Moche worschypp may thow haue; ffor ofte tymys a man may se A knygth ys made of a knawe.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)721 : No was þer noiþer sweyn no knaue Þat ouȝt failed þat he schuld haue.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2728 : And haryed forth by arm, foot, and too, And eek his steede dryuen forth with staues, With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaues.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3535 : Þe ȝonge bachelrye Ouer Tigre to oþere ferde..And maden many kniȝth and knaue [LinI: knawe] Jn medes and felde ded bilaue.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7962 : He dude fecche al his tresoure And ȝaf it kniȝth, sweyn, and knaue.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2177 : I fand na cumfort..Nowþer of knyght, knave, ne swayn.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)270 : [Merlin] was come in-to her hoste in the semblaunce of a knaue on foote [F de garchon a piet].
4.
(a) A wastrel, good-for-nothing; rogue, knave, villain; knaves crie, outcry of rascals; (b) a wretched man, man in misery.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16303 : For vnwis is þe king, swa beoð his cnihtes, & a cnaue is his broðer þe an alse þe oðer.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1332 : Sarazin, þou smitest fol sore; Suþen þi berd was ischaue, Þou art woxen a strong knaue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.433 : Also many a vicious knaue..is sustened by cause of hem.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.253 : And if that she be fair, thow verray knaue, Thow seist that euery holour wol hire haue.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.121 : She is tykil of hire tail, talewys of hire tunge, As comoun as þe cartewey to knaue & to monk.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)855 : He wonded no woþe of wekked knavez..For harlotez wyth his hendelayk he hoped to chast.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2390 : For al be it that he wol nat..serve yow as a morderour or a knave, Ful lytel while shal ye trewe hym have.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2674 : And so thestat of politik puissaunce Is lost wher-euer knaues haue gouernaunce.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3484 : But ȝif thow hafe condethe of þe kynge selfen, Knaues will kill the and keppe, at thow haues.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Cmb Ii.3.26)H.205 : Knaves [Elsm: Hir lemman -- certes, this is a knauyssh speche].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)544 : Hire Soster thider went & with hire many knaves.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)560 : Sche..wolde han put hire owt at the ȝate, but that hire knaues wolde hire not late but setten hand on this good Maiden..and hire to-beten.
- c1450 7 Sages(1) (Arun 140)137/1892 : Now þou wylt þy sone sclee..And oþer whyll þou wylt hym saue; Þat is þe maner of a knaue [vr. knawe]!
- c1450 Swarte smekyd (Arun 292)4 : Swech noys on nyghtes ne herd men neuer: What knauene cry and clateryng of knockes!
- c1460 Who so can (Dub 432)24 : Here haþe this shrewe..scorne Of a preching..Here þe knaue haþe no drede, Whan þe preste vp þe oste doþe liffte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)355/12 : What boy bragge outh, hym spilly I; as knave, wyth this craggyd knad hym kylle I.
- a1475 Lydg.CB (Lngl 258)374 : A childis bird & a knavis wiff Haue ofte sith gret sorwe & myschance.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.112 : But for ȝe cleued to knavis in þis cas, I avowe, Þat boldid þi burnes to belde vppon sorowe.
- (a1483) Tailors' Gild Exeter315 : Yf any Brother of the fforsayd ffraternyte and crafte dysspysse anoder, callenge hym knaffe or horson or deffe or any yoder mysname, he schall pay..xij d.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)111 : Lytyll wyst Desonell that jente, For whos love that he went To fyght with that knave.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)404 : Thei of the reame of logres be nother knaues ne harlottes, but worthi men and goode knyghtes.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)29 : Þer ar mony a lydur knave þat in þo fylde wolde feyntly fyȝth, But trwe mens gud ȝyt wolde þei have.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9865 : Ich was þi lord, now am y knaue; On me pite & merci haue.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)3078 : I þat was straught to þe sternes am strykyn nowe to ground, Nowe a crathan & a knaffe [Ashm: caitefe], nowe am I kest vnder.
5.
(a) In cpds. & combs.: ~ barn (girle), a male infant; ~ servaunt, a man servant; hors ~, a stableboy [see also hors 8. (f)]; ~ child, q.v.; boie (calf, halle, kichene, ladie) ~ [see boie n. (1) 3.(a), calf n., halle n., kichene n., ladie n.]; (b) in surnames; (c) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.101-2].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.12.18 : Þou shalt etyn hem in þe place þat þe lord þy god cheseþ, þou & þy sone & douȝter, knaue seruant [L servus] & maide seruant.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2628 : Þou es wit child of a knaue barn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2668 : Hald ȝee þe couenand o þis wi[s]: Do your knauebarns [Frf: knauebarnys; Trin-C: knaue childre] to circumces þe aghtand dai þat þai are born.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5544 : Al þa knau barns [Frf: knaue childer] þat þai fand, Wit-outen grith þai suld þam sla.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5568 : Þan comanded eft king pharaon..Quen wimmen ani knaubarn [Göt: knaue-child] bar þat o þe kind of hebru war, Men suld it in þe flum for-far.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/59 : Here knaue gerlys I xal steke.
b
- (1239) Lib.R.Hen.III.1 (PRO C 62)412 : Ernald Knaue.
- (1255) Pat.R.Hen.III395 : Walter le Chesknave.
- (1275) Pat.R.Edw.I103 : John le Cnave.
- (1275) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms128 : Rog. Cnave, Joh. le Cuave.
- (1279-80) Pipe R.Chs.in LCRS 92142 : De Agnete la knaue pro eodem [transgressione].
- (1281) Pat.R.Edw.I467 : Philip Theabbotesknave.
- (1296) Pat.R.Edw.I219 : Roger le Personesknave.
- (1307) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms129 : Will. Margeriknave.
- (1314) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms112 : Horsenave, Horsknave.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3259 : Ade le Cnave.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms128 : Emma Knaue.
- (1339-40) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms129 : Thurstan le Prestesknaue.
- (1350-1) Freeman R.in KRec.18203 : Thomas Knave.
c
- (1185) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)231 : Cnaueherst.
- (1186) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)231 : Cnauenhurst.
- (1255) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)231 : Knavehirst.
- (1304) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)231 : Knauenhurst.
- (1322) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)186 : Knaveslade.
- (1326) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)186 : Knavene Slade.
- (1330) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)92 : Knaworthi.
- (1330) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)410 : Knavethorne.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--per MLL