Middle English Dictionary Entry
knok(ke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | knok(ke n. Also knoke, knoc(ke, nokke. |
| Etymology | From knokken v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A blow; in pl.: blows; also, hammering; haven knokkes, haven a ~ (or two, to receive blows, be beaten; yeven a ~, strike (sb.), deliver a blow; (b) fig.; (c) an attack; yeven ~, to fight.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4504 : For a preestes sone yaf hym a knok [vr. knoke] Vp on his leg whil he was yong and nyce, He made hym for to lese his benefice.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2379 : For care of þy knokke cowardyse me taȝt.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)24/98 : Þe bare..delt þam knokkes to þaire mede.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1841 : Jn justis and fyȝtis nys non oþir rent Bote strokis and knokkis and harde deontis.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10599 : He deled aboute him euel knockis.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)129 : Pore men schullen stonde with oute..but ȝif þei geten knockis & reprouynge & wrong extorsions.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1834 : Now wyl I gynne forth to goo, & make Coueytyse haue a knoke or too.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)360 : And sykerly yf thou do, Thou shalte haue a knocke or two.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3843 : For drede he and hys men so dede..In auenture þat he hente knokkes.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)485 : Luke thi knave hafe a knoke bot he þe clothe spred.
- c1450 Swarte smekyd (Arun 292)4 : Swarte smekyd smeþes smateryd wyth smoke Dryue me to deth wyth den of here dyntes; Swech noys on nyghtes ne herd men neuere; What knauene cry and clateryng of knockes!
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)284 : He schal for his spoilyng have as good knokkis as evyr had Englischman.
- c1465 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Bod 414)I.562 : Nokkis [Elsm: Vileyns wordes and knakkes of Iaperis].
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)331 : As syr Roger gaf a knokk, Behynde hym com syr marrok.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)33/342 : Yit reede I no man let me ffor drede of a knok.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)234/207 : I myself shall hym kyll, And murder with knokys.
- a1500 Ale (BodPoet e.1)p.287 : Ale mak many a mane to mak his hed haue knokkes.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.327 : And þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun..Haue a knokke of a kynge, and incurable þe wounde.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.178 : Þe abbot of engelonde and þe abbesse ys nece Shullen haue a knok on here crounes.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)160/29 : He out ȝed..Beryng..Þe hole cros, þat kene a knok Vnto oure dedly foo.
- a1450 ?Audelay An a byrchyn bonke (Dc 302)220/82 : Bot soche a carful k[ny]l to his hert coldis, So doþ þe knyf ore þe kye, þat knoc kelddus.
c
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1614 : Wiþ peys, stones, and gauelok, Heore fon þey ȝaue knokk.