knockn.1
/nɒk/, U.S. /nɑk/ 1.
a. An act of knocking; a sounding blow; a hard stroke or thump; spec. a rap at a door to call attention or gain admittance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow
dintc897
swengOE
shutec1000
kill?c1225
swipc1275
stroke1297
dentc1325
touchc1325
knock1377
knalc1380
swapc1384
woundc1384
smitinga1398
lush?a1400
sowa1400
swaipa1400
wapc1400
smita1425
popc1425
rumbelowc1425
hitc1450
clope1481
rimmel1487
blow1488
dinga1500
quartera1500
ruska1500
tucka1500
recounterc1515
palta1522
nolpc1540
swoop1544
push1561
smot1566
veny1578
remnant1580
venue1591
cuff1610
poltc1610
dust1611
tank1686
devel1787
dunching1789
flack1823
swinge1823
looder1825
thrash1840
dolk1861
thresh1863
mace-blow1879
pulsation1891
nosebleeder1921
slosh1936
smackeroo1942
dab-
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > striking so as to produce sound > knocking > a knock
knock1377
knackc1380
rapa1586
rap-tap1733
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 327 Þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun and alle his issu..Haue a knokke of a kynge.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 223 He schal for his spoilyng haue as good knokkis as euyr had Englischman.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCxxiiiv As a nayle the moo knockes it hath, the more sure it is fixed.
1568 (a1500) Freiris Berwik 154 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 265 His knok scho kend and did so him in lett.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 15 And prove their Doctrine Orthodox By Apostolick Blows and Knocks.
1743 A. Pope Dunciad (rev. ed.) iv. 443 A drowzy Watchman, that just gives a knock, And breaks our rest, to tell us what's a clock.
1819 J. Keats Let. 13 Mar. (1958) II. 46 The variations of single and double knocks.
a1844 L. Hunt Our Cottage 10 No news comes here,..not a postman's knock.
1866 J. W. Carlyle Lett. III. 317 The telegraph boy gave his double-knock.
1883 C. J. Mathews Patter versus Clatter ii. 10 (Double knock, L.H.) There, someone come to call. Polly, go and see who it is; stop, child, take off your apron, it's a double knock.
b. A misfortune, a rebuff, a blow; adverse criticism. Frequently in to take the knock: to sustain a severe financial or emotional blow, to suffer a setback.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > instance of misfortune or ill-luck > severe or sudden
shake1565
cut1568
dash1580
knock1649
shock1654
blow1678
stroke1686
black eye1712
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [verb (intransitive)] > suffer a setback
to take the knock1890
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > [noun] > a check or rebuff
rebuke?a1513
counterbuff1579
damp1584
check?c1600
turnagain1630
rebuff1672
knock1898
knockback1898
1649 T. Forde Lusus Fortunæ 92 Our bodies are but fraile, earthen vessels, subject to every knock of sicknesse.
1890 Globe 21 Apr. 6/1 A broken backer of horses who has taken, what is known in the language of the turf, as the knock.
1898 A. Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko ii. 37 We get hard knocks and no thanks, and why should we do it?
1900 E. Wells Chestnuts xxiii. 226 When a prominent backer takes the knock racing, he sometimes has the greatest difficulty to avoid his creditors.
1905 ‘H. McHugh’ You can search Me iii. 50 There are only four people in New York city who can write criticisms—the rest of the bunch are slush-dealers, and a knock from any one of them is a boost.
1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. iii. iv. 322 Here's a poor devil whose mistress has just been telling him a pretty little story of her husband... He's taken the knock, you see.
1929 D. Runyon in Cosmopolitan Nov. 73/1 It will be a knock to his reputation.
1930 V. Palmer in Bulletin (Sydney) 30 Apr. 38/3 [McCurdie] lay there... ‘He's taken the knock,’ said a cattle-buyer... In a moment a change came into the atmosphere around the sleeping man.
1930 D. Runyon in Collier's 13 Sept. 7/1 They are always doing something which is considered a knock to the community, such as robbing people.
1936 A. Huxley Eyeless in Gaza vi. 54 ‘One's had a pretty bad knock,’ he added self-consciously, in that queer jargon which he imagined to be colloquial English... That ‘bad knock’ was a metaphor drawn from the boxing contests he had never witnessed.
1948 V. Palmer Golconda xiv. 111 He saw himself..ready to stand up and take the knock if they got into trouble with the john.
1955 Times 19 Aug. 2/5 In a dress suit much too large for him, he is on top of the world by submitting with such cheerful readiness to its knocks.
1959 Encounter Aug. 7/1 Like other institutions of the Establishment, it has taken a knock or two in recent years.
1962 B.S.I. News June 9/1 Advertising has had some hard knocks from its critics recently.
1973 A. Behrend Samarai Affair ii. 24 The pilot..in the event of an accident will..[be] summoned to appear before the Pilotage Committee to explain his actions and take the knock if held to blame.
c. A knocking noise, or knocking noises, in an engine; spec. in a reciprocating internal-combustion engine, noise caused by a very abrupt rise in pressure in the cylinder as a result of too rapid combustion (in spark-ignition engines, the sudden spontaneous ignition of all the unburnt portion of the mixture before the flame from the sparking plug reaches it); faulty combustion of this character. Cf. knock v. 5b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > engine sound > [noun] > knock
knock1899
knocking1899
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > noise in
knock1899
put-put1905
pinking1910
ping1927
pink1927
putter1942
pinging1955
1899 J. Perry Steam Engine v. 115 In double-acting engines we can often utilise the inertia forces to alter the point in the crank pin path at which the knock occurs, so that it shall not produce such serious effects.
1903 M. P. Bale Gas & Oil Engine Managem. iv. 61 Knocking in the Cylinder.—This often arises from premature firing of the charge before the end of the compression stroke is reached, thus throwing a greater pressure than usual on the piston before it commences the power stroke, and causing a jar or knock as the crank turns the dead centre.
1903 Cassell's Cycl. Mech. 3rd Ser. 264/1 Locating ‘Knock’ in Steam Engine.
1904 R. J. Mecredy Dict. Motoring Knock, a peculiar thumping noise sometimes made by an oil engine, which denotes that something is wrong. It is quite a distinct noise from the regular beat of the engine.
1908 Motor Cycle 15 Jan. 46/1 I have had a number of letters lately referring to the existence of ‘knock’ in engines that have run a year or two in private hands.
1912 Motor 6 Aug. 38/2 Engine knock.
1920 Cornhill Mag. Sept. 314 The carbon knock, the ignition knock, and the bearing knock are fairly simple propositions.
1927 W. Deeping Doomsday xxv. 265 Half-way up the long hill..‘Cherry's’ engine developed a sudden and rather fearsome ‘knock’.
1933 [see sense 5b]. 1939 T. W. Croft & E. J. Tangerman Steam-engine Princ. (ed. 2) xiii. 410 By far the commonest causes of knocks are water in the cylinder and loose bearings.
1956 E. Molloy & G. H. Lanchester Automobile Engineer's Ref. Bk. v. 5 The well-known effect of ignition timing on knock is due to the fact that the relative timing of the piston and the spark-ignited flame controls the pressure in the end-gas.
1963 C. Campbell Sports Car Engine ix. 181 During knock more heat is transferred to the cylinder walls.
1973 A. Parrish Mech. Engineer's Ref. Bk. (ed. 11) ii. 17 Correct choice of mixture strength, ignition timing, fuel (octane number) and good combustion chamber design will allow smooth combustion without knock which occurs if the end gas reaches the condition where self-ignition causes an explosion of all the mixture remaining in the chamber.
2. A clock. Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun]
clock1370
knock1502
watch-clock1592
timist1711
goer1730
tick-ticka1777
dial plate1796
hall-clock1815
tick-tock1947
1502 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 159 To Schir James Petegrew, to his expens cumand to Strivelin to divis ane knok iijli. xs.
1559 Q. Kennedy Lett. to Willock in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 270 Att ten houris of the knoke.
1826 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxix, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 792 Do you put back..the lang hand o' the knock.
1853 C. Reade Christie Johnstone 294 Flucker informed her that the nock said ‘half eleven’.
3. Cricket. An innings; a spell at batting (in a match or at practice).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > innings
inning1721
innings1735
knock1889
1889 James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. ii. ii. 72 Surrey were fortunate to get first ‘knock’, and..were able to just reach the second hundred.
1898 G. Giffen With Bat & Ball i. 2 At last..I would..bowl for a little while; and then they began to give me an occasional knock.
1900 Captain 3 200/1 ‘You play cricket yourself, then?’ ‘Oh, I have an occasional knock.’
1900 Captain 3 210/1 ‘W. G.’ advises every batsman to have a knock..before going in. An over or two at the nets loosens your muscles.
1909 Pearson's Mag. Aug. 180/1 Crofton's had won the toss and taken first ‘knock’.
1927 Observer 27 Nov. 28 His knock..included eight boundaries.
1958 ‘N. Blake’ Penknife in my Heart iii. 50 I'm taking first knock. I've got to be sure you'll go in when it's your turn.
1970 Times 26 Aug. 11/8 A fine knock by Mushtaq, who batted for two hours and hit ten fours.
4. knock for knock: applied to an agreement between insurers that each will pay his own policy-holders without regard to the question of liability.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [adjective] > insurance policy types
tontine1790
whole-life1832
term1834
floating1839
all risks1885
third party1901
non-profit1905
knock for knock1906
stamped1913
warehouse to warehouse1922
without-profit(s)1924
with-profit(s)1924
loaded1928
unit-linked1966
no-fault1967
new-for-old1984
critical illness1986
1906 Daily Chron. 26 July 6/6 Mr. Fairbank said that the ‘knock for knock’ agreement had never paid with the horse vehicles.
1927 B. C. Hoskins Insurance Lexicon 127 Knock for knock agreement.—An arrangement made between Companies..for dealing automatically with collisions between vehicles owned by their respective insureds; each Company undertakes to pay for the damage to its own insured's vehicle irrespective of the question of liability as between the parties in collision.
1958 Manch. Guardian 11 June 9/6 The knock-for-knock agreement is an arrangement whereby when two insured vehicles have been in collision each insurance company pays for the damage to the car it has insured,..without regard to the degree of blame, if any, of the driver.
1972 Mod. Law Rev. 35 i. 18 Some types of cases which are handled by small claims courts in other jurisdictions are dealt with in England in ways which obviate the necessity for a claim. Perhaps the most significant example is knock-for-knock agreements among motor-vehicle insurers.
5.
a. (An act of) copulation; so on the knock, engaged in prostitution.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual intercourse > an act of
swivec1560
fall1594
sleep1612
fuck1663
merry bout1780
stroke1785
screw?c1845
charver1846
fuckeea1866
sex act1888
frigc1890
grind1893
mount1896
poke1902
tumble1903
screwing1904
ride1905
roll1910
trick1926
lay1932
jump1934
bang1937
knock1937
shag1937
a roll in the hay1945
boff1956
naughty1959
root1961
shtup1964
home run1967
seeing to1970
legover1975
bonk1978
zatch1980
boink1989
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > engaged in prostitution [phrase]
upon the town1712
on (or upon) the loose1749
on the turf1860
on the game1898
on the bash1936
on the knock1969
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 460/2 Knock, a copulation.
1969 D. Bagley Spoilers i. 11 Maybe she was on the knock.
b. Australian. to do a knock with: (see quot. 1941).
ΚΠ
1933 N. Lindsay Saturdee 138 Supposin' I was to do a knock with girls, what 'ud I say to them?
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 23 Do a knock (line) with: to take an amorous interest in a member of the opposite sex.
Compounds
knockmeter n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of knock in the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > noise in > instrument for measuring
bouncing-pin1930
knockmeter1934
1934 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 38 353 Knock intensity is measured by a bouncing pin, in conjunction with either a knockmeter or a gas-evolution burette.
1960 V. B. Guthrie Petroleum Products Handbk. iv. 17 The test engine is equipped with a pressure-sensitive pickup mounted in the cylinder head in direct contact with the combustion chamber. A knockmeter is used in conjunction with this pressure-sensitive element to indicate on a scale the intensity of the engine knock... A fuel that is to be tested is brought up to a standard knock intensity, as indicated on the knockmeter, by adjustment of the engine compression ratio.
knock rating n. (the determination of) the insusceptibility of a fuel to knock.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > chemical fuel > [noun] > liquid > properties of
cetane number1871
octane1931
octane number1931
knock rating1932
startability1933
octane rating1936
1932 Engineering 8 July 45/3 The marked effect of cylinder temperature upon the relative knock ratings of fuels was observed by Heron in 1928.
1933 Aircraft Engineering Aug. 177/1 To have an agreed scale of knock-rating for aviation fuels is no less important.
1959 B.S.I. News Aug. 14 Two draft ISO recommendations covering the motor and research methods of determining knock rating.
Draft additions 1997
Also, the batter's score during an innings, esp. a good score rapidly achieved.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > innings > specific good score rapidly achieved
knock1976
1976 Milton Keynes Express 30 July 41/1 Arnold Mann was top scorer with a patient knock of 24.
1986 Club Cricketer May 21/1 He..averaged 36.75 in four innings for the county, thanks largely to a knock of 72.
Draft additions 1997
6. Angling colloquial. A pull on the line by a fish. Cf. bite n. 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > loosing catch
knock1969
1969 in P. Beale Partridge's Dict. Slang (ed. 8, 1984) 654/1.
1987 Coarse Angler Feb. 29/2 Up to darkness I did have a modicum of success with two small chub and a few knocks which did not materialise and which I put down to small chub or dace.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
knockn.2
/nɒk/, U.S. /nɑk/, Scottish English /nɔk/ Scottish.
1. A hill; a hillock, a knoll.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > rising ground or eminence > [noun] > hillock
barrowc885
burrowc885
berryc1000
knapc1000
knollc1000
ball1166
howa1340
toft1362
hillocka1382
tertre1480
knowec1505
hilleta1552
hummock1555
mountainettea1586
tump1589
butt1600
mountlet1610
mounture1614
colline1641
tuft1651
knock?17..
tummock1789
mound1791
tomhan1811
koppie1848
tuffet1877
?17.. Jacobite Relics II. 148 (Jam.) Round the rock, Down by the knock.
1820 Glenfergus I. 108 The knock, an insulated hill behind the church.
2. A name given on the coast of Lincolnshire, etc., to sandbanks. Cf. Kentish Knock, a sandbank near the mouth of the Thames; also Knock Sand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > land mass > reef > sandbank > [noun]
sand-ridgec1000
hurst1398
shelp1430
sand1495
ayre1539
bar1587
knock1587
sandbank1589
middle ground1653
middle1702
overslaugh1755
sandbar1767
sea-bank1828
tow-head1829
wharf1867
whale1905
horse1926
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1538/2 He vndertooke to make [at Dover] certeine groins or knocks, which at the havens mouth should cause such a depth, as thereby the whole harborough should lie drie at a low water.
1881 Standard 19 Dec. 6/3 Olive Branch has been assisted into Harwich very leaky, having knocked over the Knock Sand.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 1 Dec. 7/2 The surf boat..when near Kentish Knock was taken in tow by a tug..no vessel can be found on the Knock.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† knockn.3
Obsolete. rare.
A bundle of heckled flax.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > flax, hemp, or jute > heckled
knock1573
1573 in G. J. Piccope Lancs. & Cheshire Wills (1861) III. 62 xx knokes of hatchelled lyne.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
knockv.
/nɒk/, U.S. /nɑk/ 1. figurative.c1374 G. Chaucer Compl. Mars 84 With torch in honde of whiche the stremes briȝt On venus Chaumbre knokkide ful lyȝt.1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 61 Sa grete is the guidnes of God to knok at the breist of man.a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 8 The cry did knocke Against my very heart. View more context for this quotation1858 N. Hawthorne Fr. & Ital. Jrnls. II. 2 A sense of his agony..came knocking at my heart.
a. intransitive. To strike with a sounding blow, as with the fist or something hard; esp. to rap upon a door or gate in order to call attention or gain admittance (const. at, †on, †upon).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > so as to produce a sound > knock
knockc1000
tapc1425
rap1440
chopa1522
knap1535
knack1570
chap1774
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 382 He..cnucode æt ðære dura.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 7 Cnuciað and eow biþ ontyned.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 36 Þonne he cymð and cnucað.
10.. in Assmann Angels. Homil. (Kassel) 1889 Heo..fæstlice on þære cytan duru cnocode.
c1160 Hatton Gosp. Matt. vii. 7 Cnokieð and eow beoð untyned.
c1160 Hatton Gosp. Luke xii. 36 Þanne he cymð and cnokeð.
c1320 Orfeo 363 Orpheo knocked at the gate.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 7 Knocke ȝe, and it shal be opnyd to ȝou.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 726 Quen such þer cnoken on þe bylde, Tyt schal hem men þe ȝate vnpynne.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 244 Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxv. 72 Þare knokide he Wyth-owte þe Dure.
1600 R. Armin Foole vpon Foole sig. B2v They knockt to the Dresser and the dinner went vp.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) v. i. 14 What's he that knockes as he would beat downe the gate? View more context for this quotation
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xii. 203 To knock upon the back of the Cleaving Knife.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 197 She stood before her lover's door, and knocked for admittance.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon I. 115 He knocked at the door.
b. Without reference to the sound produced: To give a hard blow, to beat; to give blows; †elliptical. To strike upon the breast (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike or deliver blows [verb (intransitive)]
slay971
smitelOE
flatc1330
flap1362
acoupc1380
frapa1400
girda1400
hit?a1400
knocka1400
swap?a1400
wapa1400
castc1400
strike1509
befta1522
to throw about one1590
cuff1596
to let down1640
dunch1805
yark1818
bunt1867
society > faith > worship > other practices > carry out other practices [verb (intransitive)] > strike upon the breast
knock1562
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 29092 Knock on brest wit hand.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 414 Ta now þy grymme tole to þe, & let se how þou cnokez [MS reads cnokeȝ].
1562 in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1824) I. i. xxix. 503 Divers communicants..superstitiously both kneel and knock.
1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. ii. 100 To fall downe before a stocke & a stone, and to doe it reuerence, capping, kneeling, knocking,..and such like.
c. transitive with indefinite object it, To give knocks; also, with cognate object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > so as to make a sound > knock
knellc950
chopa1375
knap?a1500
knock1623
rap1676
knubble1721
knobble?1795
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iv. 112 Let the Musicke knock it. View more context for this quotation
1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin ii. 183 He resolv'd at a Dead pinch to knock it.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xxxv. 292 We have knocked double knocks at the street-door.
1865 J. H. Newman Dream of Gerontius §1 A visitant Is knocking his dire summons at my door.
2. † b. figurative. To strike with astonishment, alarm, or confusion; to confound; to ‘floor’. Obsolete. colloquial.
a. transitive. To give a hard blow or blows to; to hit, strike, beat, hammer; †to beat into small pieces, pound (obsolete). Also with complement expressing result, as to knock to (or in) pieces, etc., to knock a hole, gap, etc.; to knock daylight into (cf. daylight n. Phrases 3).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)]
swingc725
slayc825
knockc1000
platOE
swengea1225
swipa1225
kill?c1225
girdc1275
hitc1275
befta1300
anhitc1300
frapa1330
lushc1330
reddec1330
takec1330
popc1390
swapa1400
jod?14..
quella1425
suffetc1440
smith1451
nolpc1540
bedunch1567
percuss1575
noba1586
affrap1590
cuff?1611
doda1661
buffa1796
pug1802
nob1811
scud1814
bunt1825
belt1838
duntle1850
punt1886
plunk1888
potch1892
to stick one on1910
clunk1943
zonk1950
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike hard or vigorously
dingc1300
knock1377
thwack1533
stoter1690
sock1699
whack1721
slog1824
whither1825
drub1849
thack1861
slug1862
dang1866
whomp1973
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 142 genim þonne þa leaf, cnuca on anum mortere.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 168 genim þa wyrte gecnucude [MS. B. gecnocode].
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 382 Cnucige ealle ða wyrta.
c1075 Indicia Monasterialia in Techmer's Zeitschrift II. 125 Þonne wege þu þine fyst, swilce þu wyrta cnocian wille.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 397 He bygan benedicite with a bolke, and his brest knocked.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum xvii. xcvii. (Tollem, MS.) It [flax] is..knokked and bete, breyed and carfled.
a1400–50 Alexander 639 Him wald he kenely on þe croune knok with his tablis.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 2601 Kylle of hor knightes, knocke hom to dethe.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxxijv Some knocked other on the elbow, and said softly he lieth.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. i. 53 I haue an humour..to knock [1623 knocke] you indifferently well.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. i. 82 His knees knocking each other. View more context for this quotation
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 37 The Bar knocking in pieces all that are inflexible.
1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 424 [He] runs to open the door when it is knocked.
1881 Punch 17 Sept. 124/1 Ready at the call of duty to frame a new programme or knock daylight into an old one.
1890 A. Conan Doyle Sign of Four iv. 68 He knocked a hole..in the lath and plaster ceiling.
1906 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Some Irish Yesterdays 85 You may see him skilfully ‘knocking a gap’ (i.e. unbuilding a wall).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)]
gloppena1250
abavea1400
ferlya1400
forferlya1400
supprisec1405
stonish1488
surprend1549
stagger1556
thunderbolta1586
admire1598
startle1598
thunderstrike1613
siderate1623
dumbfound1653
surprise1655
stammer1656
strange1657
astartlea1680
dumbfounder1710
knock1715
to take aback1751
flabbergast1773
to take back1796
stagnate1829
to put aback1833
to make (a person) sit up1878
to knock, lay (out), etc., cold1884
transmogrify1887
rock1947
to flip out1964
1715 S. Sewall Diary 1 Feb. (1973) II. 784 Mr. Winthrop was so knockt that he said it could not be done.
c. To ‘strike’ forcibly, make a strong impression on; to move to admiration, ‘fetch’. slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > have an effect on [verb (transitive)]
gravec1374
bitec1400
rapt?1577
infecta1586
to come (also get, go) home to1625
to screw up1644
strike1672
strikea1701
impress1736
to touch up1796
to burn into1823
knock1883
hit1891
impressionize1894
1883 Referee 6 May 3/3 (Farmer) ‘It's Never too Late to Mend’, with J. H. Clynds as Tom Robinson, is knocking 'em at the Pavilion.
1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 97 There is nothing knocks a country audience like a hornpipe.
1892 A. Chevalier (title of song) Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road.
1898 A. Bennett Man From North xi. 95 Two guineas the suit, my boy! Won't I knock 'em in the Wal-worth Road!
1910 P. G. Wodehouse Psmith in City xix. 167 He told him that he had knocked them at the Bedford the week before.
1947 K. Tennant Lost Haven vii. 97 The skirt was flared with cunning little tucks at the waist, so that it fitted her like a glove... ‘That ought to knock them,’ Mark's granddaughter said aloud.
1954 ‘N. Blake’ Whisper in Gloom i. vi. 83 Wasn't she in pantomine?.. Bet she knocked them.
d. To surpass, excel, ‘beat’. U.S.
ΚΠ
1853 Knickerbocker July 55 He ‘knocked’ all the adjacent male population, native and imported, in the matter of looks.
e. To copulate with; also, to make pregnant. So in to knock a child (or an apple) out (of).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > fecundation or impregnation > [verb (transitive)]
geta1375
to beget with childa1393
impregn?c1550
season1555
enwomb1590
knock1598
with-child1605
fill1607
fertilitate1638
ingravidate1642
impregnate1646
improlificate1646
prolificate1650
pregnant1660
pregnate1686
fecundate1721
fecundify1736
to knock up1813
to put in the family way1898
inseminate1923
to get or put (someone) in the (pudding) club1936
stork1936
to put in the way1960
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man
jape1382
overliec1400
swivec1405
foilc1440
overlay?a1475
bed1548
possess1592
knock1598
to get one's leg over1599
enjoy1602
poke1602
thrum1611
topa1616
riga1625
swingea1640
jerk1650
night-work1654
wimble1656
roger1699
ruta1706
tail1778
to touch up1785
to get into ——c1890
root1922
to knock up1934
lay1934
pump1937
prong1942
nail1948
to slip (someone) a length1949
to knock off1953
thread1958
stuff1960
tup1970
nut1971
pussy1973
service1973
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Cunnuta, a woman nocked.
1604 J. Marston Malcontent iii. iii. sig. E2v Haue beate my Shoomaker, knockt my Sempstres, cuckold my Pottecary, and vndone my Taylor.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Knock, to knock a woman, to have carnal knowledge of her.
1818 J. Keats Let. 5 Jan. (1931) I. 80 They call good Wine a pretty tipple, and call getting a Child knocking out an apple.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 389 I cannot but extol the virile potency of the old bucko that could still knock another child out of her.
1936 J. Steinbeck In Dubious Battle iv. 45 Sooner or later some girl'd get knocked higher than a kite.
1963 T. Parker Unknown Citizen v. 120 You give your missus so much money a week, you knock a few kids out of her, and that's about it, really.
1967 D. Pinner Ritual ix. 96 I've knocked some girls in my time but I've never had such a rabbiter as you. The cruder it is, the more you like it.
f. To rob (esp. a safe or till). Underworld slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)] > steal from
picka1350
lifta1529
filch1567
purloinc1571
prowl1603
touch1631
pinch1632
to pick up1687
to speak with ——1725
knock1767
shab1787
jump1789
to speak to ——1800
shake1811
spice1819
sting1819
tap1879
to knock over1928
1767 Sessions Papers iv. 151/2 I heard him say he got twelve shillings once by knocking the lobb... What is that?.. That is breaking open a place.
1924 G. C. Henderson Keys to Crookdom App. B. 397 Blowing a peter. Blowing a safe open with explosives. Also called knocking a peter, blowing a pete, getting a box.
1963 Times 25 May 12/2 The appellant had been asked if he had told someone in the ‘Norfolk’ that he got the money by safe breaking. The appellant had replied: ‘Aye but you will never prove that I got it by knocking a safe.’
g. To speak ill or slightingly of, disparage, find fault with, criticize captiously. Also intransitive and absol. colloquial (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > criticize [verb (intransitive)] > captiously
apeluchier1340
pinchc1387
pick-fault1544
carp1548
cavil1548
snag1554
nibblea1591
catch1628
momize1654
niggle1796
nag1828
to pick on ——1864
snark1882
knock1892
nitpick1962
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > criticize [verb (transitive)] > captiously
upbraidc1290
bite1330
to gnap at1533
carp1550
cavil1581
carp1587
to pick at ——1603
to pick a hole (also holes) in1614
yark1621
vellicate1633
to peck at1641
snob1654
ploat1757
to get at ——1803
crab1819
to pick up1846
knock1892
snark1904
kvetchc1950
to pick nits1978
1892 J. Miller Workingman's Paradise 85 Admit it's a business concern and that everybody growls at it, it's the only paper that dares knock things.
1896 G. Ade Artie xii. 106 There's a lot o' people in the ward that's got their hammers out, and they're knockin' him all they can.
1896 G. Ade Artie xii. 110 He's got to make good with 'em to keep 'em from knockin.
1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 54 I'm not knocking, remember; I'm only saying what I think. I hate a knocker.
1904 Sun (N.Y.) 4 Aug. 5 ‘Of course there'll be plenty of cranks to knock this scheme,’ said he.
1906 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 16 Jan. 4/3 I refer to the practice of allowing any kicker in the city to avail himself of newspaper space to knock some public man or some public institution.
a1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xx. 339 Now, quit knocking my profession.
1919 ‘I. Hay’ Last Million (new ed.) iii. 36 A certain licence is permitted to professional grouchers; but ‘knocking’ the Cause is the one thing that the New Crusaders will not permit.
1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean xiii. 219 You are an earnest young cook, Jud, and far be it from me to knock, but—.
1926 Spectator 3 Apr. 635/2 A reputation for ‘knocking’ is enough to ensure being blackballed from some of the best clubs.
1928 L. North Parasites 217 ‘There you go again. Always your hammer out—knocking California.’ ‘I'm not knocking California. It's this bit of California I can't stand—this Hollywood.’
1930 P. G. Wodehouse Very Good, Jeeves ii. 44 Where does a valet get off, censoring vases? Does it fall within his province to knock the young master's chinaware?
1958 K. Amis I like it Here xvi. 205 I shouldn't like you to get the idea I'm trying to knock Portugal and the Portuguese.
1958 Spectator 12 Dec. 865/1 On the last page he protests about ‘the growing tendency in some newspapers today to write only “knocking” stories about stars as big as Tommy’. But..almost any publicity is good publicity: you can knock around the clock and the moon-faced masses will only hear applause.
1970 New Scientist 5 Mar. 478/2 They're knocking Concorde again, the cads.
1974 Observer 22 Sept. 14/5 It's fashionable nowadays to ‘knock’ England for its shortcomings.
3. to knock on (†in) the head (also rarely at head):
a. literal; esp. to stun or kill by a blow on the head; often loosely, to kill in any summary way, dispatch, put to death.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by blow(s)
to beat (also stone, slay, etc.) to deathOE
to swap to (the) death, of livea1375
to ding to deathc1380
to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)?1562
settle?1611
to bowl (one) to deatha1616
tomahawk1711
stocking1762
out1899
to knock out1903
?1562 Thersytes sig. D.iiiv I care not if the olde wytche were deade: It were an almoys dede to knocke hyr in the heade.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper ii. 117 S. James..was knockt in the head like an Oxe, or Calfe, after he had been thrown down from a Pinacle of the Temple.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 99. ¶5 The Knight goes off,..seeks all Opportunities of being knock'd on the Head.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xxxviiii. 539 I had better knock the Horse o' th' Head and dispatch him at once.
1840 R. H. Barham Grey Dolphin in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 78 To lie snoring there when your brethren are being knocked at head.
b. figurative. To put an end to, bring to nothing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to
undoc950
shendOE
forfarea1000
endc1000
to do awayOE
aquenchc1175
slayc1175
slayc1175
stathea1200
tinea1300
to-spilla1300
batec1300
bleschea1325
honisha1325
leesea1325
wastec1325
stanch1338
corrumpa1340
destroy1340
to put awayc1350
dissolvec1374
supplanta1382
to-shend1382
aneantizec1384
avoidc1384
to put outa1398
beshenda1400
swelta1400
amortizec1405
distract1413
consumec1425
shelfc1425
abroge1427
downthringc1430
kill1435
poisonc1450
defeat1474
perish1509
to blow away1523
abrogatea1529
to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529
dash?1529
to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531
put in the pot1531
wipea1538
extermine1539
fatec1540
peppera1550
disappoint1563
to put (also set) beside the saddle1563
to cut the throat of1565
to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568
to make a hand of (also on, with)1569
demolish1570
to break the neck of1576
to make shipwreck of1577
spoil1578
to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579
cipher1589
ruinate1590
to cut off by the shins1592
shipwreck1599
exterminate1605
finish1611
damnify1612
ravel1614
braina1616
stagger1629
unrivet1630
consummate1634
pulverizea1640
baffle1649
devil1652
to blow up1660
feague1668
shatter1683
cook1708
to die away1748
to prove fatal (to)1759
to knock up1764
to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834
to put the kibosh on1834
to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835
kibosh1841
to chaw up1843
cooper1851
to jack up1870
scuttle1888
to bugger up1891
jigger1895
torpedo1895
on the fritz1900
to put paid to1901
rot1908
down and out1916
scuppera1918
to put the skids under1918
stonker1919
liquidate1924
to screw up1933
cruel1934
to dig the grave of1934
pox1935
blow1936
to hit for six1937
to piss up1937
to dust off1938
zap1976
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 327 To knocke his..mallice in the head.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft viii. iii. 160 Witchcraft..is knocked on the head.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 63 Endeavour to knock all on the head, urging that it will be of great prejudice to the King.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 197 One unlucky Action knocked it all on the Head.
1852 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 158 We were to have gone to Germany, but that is all knocked on the head.
4.
a. transitive. To drive or bring (a thing) violently against something else; to strike against or upon something else; to bring into collision.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge upon [verb (transitive)] > cause to impinge > forcibly or violently
knocka1340
runa1425
rap1440
jowlc1470
dauda1572
sousea1593
bedash1609
bob1612
hit1639
bump1673
bebump1694
boup1715
bonk1929
prang1952
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxxvi. 12 Blisful he þat shal holde, and knok his smale [L. paruulos suos] til þe stone.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. i. 55 Ile knock his Leeke about his Pate. View more context for this quotation
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 111 Buffola's..knock Foreheads with a Force adequate to such great Engines.
b. †to knock heads with: to congregate thickly or associate closely with (obsolete). to knock one's head against: to strike with one's head; figurative to hurt oneself by coming into collision with resisting facts or conditions; to knock head = to kowtow v.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb]
to knock heads with1530
wella1693
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > come up against opposition from
to run up againsta1758
to run afoul of1822
to knock one's head against1824
buck1904
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > be servile [verb (intransitive)]
fawnc1325
crouch1528
jouk1573
crawl1576
creep1581
spaniel1599
grovel1605
spanielize1641
cringec1660
to lick the ground1667
truckle1680
to kiss (a person's) arse, behind, bum1705
toad-eat1766
snool1786
to eat (any one's) toads1788
kowtow1826
sidle1828
toady1861
to knock head1876
ass-lick1937
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 599/2 I knocked my heed agaynst the poste.
?1615 G. Chapman in tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) Ep. Ded. Our patrician loves, That knock heads with the herd.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. §17 In danger of knocking their heads against the Stars.
1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XV xci. 50 I always knock my head against some angle About the present, past, or future state.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxii. 350 I hear him a-knockin' his head again the lath and plaster now.
1876 J. Grant Hist. India I. xcii. 497/1 The ambassador who refused to ‘knock-head’.
1901 N.E.D. at Knock Mod. An angular man—always knocking his head against stone walls.
5. † c. to knock under board, under (the) table: to succumb in a drinking-bout; to give in, submit, yield; = to knock under at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To come into violent collision with something; to strike, collide, bump, clash.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > forcibly or violently
beatc885
pilta1200
smitec1300
dashc1305
pitchc1325
dushc1400
hitc1400
jouncec1440
hurl1470
swack1488
knock1530
jut1548
squat1587
bump1699
jowl1770
smash1835
lasha1851
ding1874
biff1904
wham1948
slam1973
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 599/2 I knocke, or hyt agaynst a thing.
1633 T. James Strange Voy. 18 Our Ship beating and knocking..fearefully.
1724 R. Bentley Serm. (T.) The atoms..must needs knock and interfere.
1881 Standard 19 Dec. 6/3 Olive Branch has been assisted into Harwich very leaky, having knocked over the Knock Sand.
b. Of mechanism: To rattle on account of parts being loose and striking each other. Also, (i) of an internal-combustion engine, to suffer from knock caused by faulty combustion (see knock n.1 1c). (ii) Of fuel for an internal-combustion engine: to give rise to knock when burnt in an engine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [verb (intransitive)] > rattle
rattlec1330
hoursch?a1400
rottlea1400
ruttlea1400
ricklec1400
to tirl at the latch, at the sneck15..
clitter1530
ruckle1700
jar1735
knock1869
ratchet1907
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > engine sound > [verb (intransitive)] > knock (of engine)
knock1905
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > engine sound > [verb (intransitive)] > knock (of fuel)
knock1927
1869 Eng. Mech. 19 Mar. 579/3 There was less ‘knocking’ where a little play..had..begun.
1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 32 They [sc. engines] knock a wee—the crosshead-gibs are loose.
1905 Daily Chron. 5 May 3/5 You advance your spark..to the point at which your engine does not knock.
1909 Motor Cycling 22 Nov. 32/1 If the engine begins to ‘knock’, a few vigorous thrusts at the pedals should be given immediately.
1916 S. R. Eighinger & M. S. Hutton Steam Traction Engineering v. 156 The main shaft boxes..will often knock.
1925 R. J. B. Sellar Sporting Yarns 186 I shall have to pull up, old chap. Cylinder's knocking!
1927 Industr. & Engin. Chem. Jan. 145/1 There is at present no satisfactory method of expressing the tendency of a fuel to ‘knock’, or detonate.
1937 P. G. Wodehouse Lord Emsworth & Others ix. 299 I became aware that the engine was not humming so smoothly. It had begun to knock.
1960 V. B. Guthrie Petroleum Products Handbk. iv. 21 Engine designers..have done a great deal to minimize the tendency of engines to knock.
1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) III. 309/2 Hydrocarbon fuels with compact molecular structures are less likely to knock.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > give way or give in
benda1400
sink?a1513
to give over1530
to cry creak?1562
yield1576
to hold up1596
succumb1604
to give in1616
to hoist, lower, strike the topsaila1629
to cry cravena1634
to give up or cross the cudgels1654
incumb1656
to fall in1667
to knock under1670
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
chuck up (the sponge)1864
to throw in one's hand1893
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to drop one's bundle1915
to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel1915
to buckle up1927
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > offer no resistance [verb (intransitive)] > give in
descend?a1400
to give up the girdlea1400
submita1525
to give over1530
subscribe1560
yield1576
come1607
to give in1616
to give the stoop1623
buckle1642
incumb1656
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
capitulate1714
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
cave1844
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
incline1866
to give (it) best1878
give way1879
to roll over1919
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > go on drinking-bout > succumb in a drinking bout
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
1692 Gentleman's Jrnl. Mar. 10 He that flinches his Glass, and to Drink is not able, Let him quarrel no more, but knock under the Table.
1700 J. Asgill Argument Eternal Life 105 I..knock under table That Satan hath beguiled me to play the Fool with my self.
1703 Levellers in Harleian Misc. (1745) V. 420/1 We will not knock under-board to the Men.
a1716 R. South 12 Serm. (1717) VI. 88 For the Government to knock under Board to the Faction.
d. with adv. or adv.phr.: to stir or move energetically, clumsily, and noisily, or in random fashion, about a place. (See also to knock about at Phrasal verbs). colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement [verb (intransitive)] > move without fixed course
stragglea1425
ambulate1598
random?1602
stray1647
stimmer1808
knocka1825
moil1889
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Knock, to stir or to work briskly. Ex. ‘He came knocking along the road in a great hurry’.
1839 W. E. Forster 20 Dec. in T. W. Reid Life W. E. Forster (1888) v. 134 A true hearty old Navy Captain,..who has knocked about Africa half his life.
1886 G. Allen For Maimie's Sake ii Knocking up and down all over..the country.
6. † c. To ‘knock down’ at an auction: see to knock down 3 at Phrasal verbs.
a. transitive. With complement: To drive by striking; to force or send by means of a blow (away, into, out of, off, etc. something, or into or out of some state or condition). See also to knock about at Phrasal verbs –to knock up at Phrasal verbs. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by impact or force > by striking or beating
smitec1330
swapa1375
inbeatc1420
possa1425
rushc1440
strike1450
ram1519
pash1530
thwack1566
whip1567
thump1596
lash1597
knocka1616
switcha1625
to knock down1653
to knock in1669
stave1837
whip1868
slog1884
to beat down-
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by impact or force > by striking or beating > into the air or over an obstacle
knocka1616
loft1883
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. ii. 62 Ile yeeld him thee asleepe, Where thou maist knocke a naile into his head. View more context for this quotation
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 85 Knock the Fuse up to the head within one quarter of an Inch.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 79 I knock'd Pieces into the Wall of the Rock, to hang my Guns..up.
1880 A. Trollope Duke's Children xlvii. 272 He was completely ‘bowled over’,—‘knocked off his pins!’
b. to knock the bottom out of: (figurative) to render invalid, make of no effect, bring to nought. (Cf. ‘It won't hold water’.) colloquial. Also (slang) to knock the end in or off: to spoil the whole affair (? obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > confound, confute [phrase]
bray1535
to beat the nail back1581
to nail (a fact, information, etc.) to the counter1842
to nail a lie (also charge, etc.)1843
to sew up one's stocking1859
to knock galley-west1875
to knock the bottom out of1875
to shoot down in flames1943
1875 W. McIlwraith Guide Wigtownshire 93 This explanation knocks the bottom out of a great many theories.
1887 R. Churchill in Times (Weekly ed.) 24 June 9/3 We shall have knocked the bottom out of Home Rule.
1919 Athenæum 8 Aug. 727/2 To ‘knock the end in’ is to spoil the whole show.
1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 138 Knock the end off, to, to spoil anything.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > a public sale > sell by public sale [verb (transitive)] > sell by auction
roup1513
to sell at a pike1594
to put, etc., under the spear1600
knocka1626
outcry1676
to cry out1701
cant1720
to knock down1765
auctioneer1785
auction1884
a1626 J. Fletcher & W. Rowley Maid in Mill v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Cccc2/1 Thy Maiden-head Shall not be worth a Chicken, if it were Knockt at an out-cry.
d. To rouse or summon (a person, esp. from sleep) by knocking at his door. (Usually with complement: see also to knock up at Phrasal verbs) colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > state of being awake > wake or rouse [verb (transitive)] > other ways of rousing
braidc1400
shake1530
alarm1650
disentrance1663
to knock up1663
knock1706
row1789
cold-pig1834
hullabaloo1936
1706 E. Baynard in J. Floyer Anc. Ψυχρολουσια Revived (rev. ed.) ii. 156 I have been..sometimes knock'd out of Bed, to Children just dying.
1901 N.E.D. at Knock Mod. He asked to be knocked at seven o'clock.
e. In various slang or colloquial phrases, as to knock into a cocked hat n., to knock spots out of, etc. Also to knock all of a heap n., down with a feather n., for a loop n.1, for six n.; to knock silly adj., cold adj., endways adv., rotten adj., sideways adv.; to knock the nonsense, etc., out of.
ΚΠ
1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. v. 48 The girlishness and timidity will be knocked out of him by the boys.
1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claimant v. 63 ‘When I came to breakfast Miss Gwendolen—well, she knocked everything out of me, you know—.’ ‘Wonderful girl, wonderful.’
1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Oct. 787/1 The boy returned to Turin, where his royal relatives did their best to get his revolutionary notions knocked out of him.
1935 L. Maude & A. Maude tr. L. Tolstoy Iván Ilých & Hadji Murád 273 They'd have knocked the nonsense out of you in the army, and he was worth five of such as you at home!
f. to knock (a person) into the middle of next week: to give (him) a decisive blow, to punish severely; to astound, flabbergast. slang (originally Pugilistic slang).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > beating or repeated striking > beat [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person
to-beatc893
threshOE
bustc1225
to lay on or upon?c1225
berrya1250
to-bunea1250
touchc1330
arrayc1380
byfrapc1380
boxc1390
swinga1400
forbeatc1420
peal?a1425
routa1425
noddlea1450
forslinger1481
wipe1523
trima1529
baste1533
waulk1533
slip1535
peppera1550
bethwack1555
kembc1566
to beat (a person) black and blue1568
beswinge1568
paik1568
trounce1568
canvass1573
swaddle?1577
bebaste1582
besoop1589
bumfeage1589
dry-beat1589
feague1589
lamback1589
clapperclaw1590
thrash1593
belam1595
lam1595
beswaddle1598
bumfeagle1598
belabour1600
tew1600
flesh-baste1611
dust1612
feeze1612
mill1612
verberate1614
bethumpa1616
rebuke1619
bemaul1620
tabor1624
maula1627
batterfang1630
dry-baste1630
lambaste1637
thunder-thump1637
cullis1639
dry-banga1640
nuddle1640
sauce1651
feak1652
cotton1654
fustigate1656
brush1665
squab1668
raddle1677
to tan (a person's) hide1679
slam1691
bebump1694
to give (a person) his load1694
fag1699
towel1705
to kick a person's butt1741
fum1790
devel1807
bray1808
to beat (also scare, etc.) someone's daylights out1813
mug1818
to knock (a person) into the middle of next week1821
welt1823
hidea1825
slate1825
targe1825
wallop1825
pounce1827
to lay into1838
flake1841
muzzle1843
paste1846
looder1850
frail1851
snake1859
fettle1863
to do over1866
jacket1875
to knock seven kinds of —— out of (a person)1877
to take apart1880
splatter1881
to beat (knock, etc.) the tar out of1884
to —— the shit out of (a person or thing)1886
to do up1887
to —— (the) hell out of1887
to beat — bells out of a person1890
soak1892
to punch out1893
stoush1893
to work over1903
to beat up1907
to punch up1907
cream1929
shellac1930
to —— the bejesus out of (a person or thing)1931
duff1943
clobber1944
to fill in1948
to bash up1954
to —— seven shades of —— out of (a person or thing)1976
to —— seven shades out of (a person or thing)1983
beast1990
becurry-
fan-
1821 W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry ii. iv They knock'd me into the middle of next week—besides tipping me this here black eye—only see how red it is!
1834 C. A. Davis Lett. J. Downing, Major xv. 105 The first clip I made was at Amos,—but he dodged it, and I hit one of the Editors of the Globe, and nocked [sic] him about into the middle of next week.
1846 W. T. Porter Quarter Race Kentucky 105 The next moment he was knocked into the middle of the next three weeks!
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. xvi. 310 I believe you would knock me into next week if I were to have a battle with you.
1883 Harper's Mag. Oct. 720/2 It would not be comfortable to be knocked by his heels into the middle of next week.
1916 Puck (N.Y.) 30 Dec. 235/2 She pulled all her Slang Stuff and knocked the Book of Etiquette into the Middle of Next Week.
Phrasal verbs
In combination with adverbs. to knock about to knock (a)round to knock back to knock down to knock in to knock off to knock on to knock out † 2. To stop or drown the voice of (a speaker) by making a knocking noise. Obsolete. to knock over to knock together to knock under to knock up
1. transitive. To strike hither and thither by a succession of blows; hence, to treat roughly and without respect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > damage or injure [verb (transitive)] > damage deliberately or vandalize
demolish1646
to knock abouta1817
vandalize1845
distress1943
trash1970
key1987
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by impact or force > by striking or beating > hither and thither
racket1599
to knock abouta1817
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. iii. 44 They [sc. sailors] are all knocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. View more context for this quotation
1876 J. Fergusson Hist. Indian & Eastern Archit. 198 The building..has been so knocked about and altered.
1889 C. F. Woolson Jupiter Lights i. 4 Great waves began to toss her and knock her about.
1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (subscribers' ed.) lxxvii. 406 Young Mustafa refused to cook rice; Farraj and Daud knocked him about until he cried.
1969 Listener 24 July 103/2 After being knocked about to an appalling extent in the first week of the war, the Poles were rallying until the Russians came in on the other side.
2. intransitive. To move about, wander, or roam, in an irregular way; also to lead an irregular life. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)] > with no fixed aim or wander > idly
roil?c1335
gada1500
stavera1500
vaguea1525
scoterlope1574
idle1599
haika1605
saunter1671
stravaig1801
palmer1805
streel1805
taver1808
traik1818
gander1822
gallivant1823
gilravage1825
project1828
daud1831
meander1831
to knock about1833
to kick about1839
to knock round1848
piroot1858
sashay1865
june1869
tootle1902
slop1907
beetle1919
stooge1941
swan1942
1833 Sketches & Eccentricities D. Crockett i. 31 David, collecting his clothes,..began to knock about.
1834 W. G. Simms Guy Rivers II. viii. 98 I've been a matter of some fifteen or twenty years knocking about..in one way or another.
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 75/2 I had been knocking about in the streets.
?1856 F. E. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship i. 3 I've..no dog-cart to knock about in.
1900 J. Hutchinson Archives Surg. XI. 267 The man admits that in youth he ‘knocked about a little’.
1929 C. Mackenzie Gallipoli Mem. iii. 21 He had knocked about all over the Pacific and would have been a splendid companion.
1937 M. Sharp Nutmeg Tree xx. 265 You're older, and you've knocked about a bit.
3. to knock the balls about: to strike a (billiard, croquet, etc.) ball idly; to play (such a ball game) in a casual fashion.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [verb (intransitive)] > actions or types of play
carambole1775
string1814
cannon1825
to make a baulk1839
star1839
push1851
to play for safety1857
run1857
carom1860
to knock the balls about1864
miscue1889
snooker1889
break1893
break1893
scratch1909
to call one's shot1953
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > croquet > play croquet [verb (intransitive)] > types of play or stroke
to knock the balls about1864
to take off1872
cut1874
finesse1874
shoot1874
peel1960
1864 C. M. Yonge Trial II. vi. 123 Tom..had seen the Andersons knocking about the balls in the new gardens..and proposed to..try to get up a match.
1872 A. Trollope Golden Lion xviii. 305 He knocked the balls about with his cue.
1907 F. E. E. Bell At Wks. vi. 130 I have seen a club with two free tables, where men..have been happily knocking the balls about from 9 a.m. onwards.
1916 A. Bennett These Twain ii. xiv. 271 ‘Shall we knock the balls about a bit?’ They began a mild game of croquet.
4. To lie around, to be available or in the vicinity; to impend.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > future [verb (intransitive)] > be imminent
comeOE
nigha1225
to draw nearc1330
approachc1374
drawa1375
to stand ina1382
to stand ona1382
instand1382
to draw ona1450
proacha1450
to draw nigha1470
to fall at handa1535
to hang by (on, upon) a threada1538
instant1541
to prick fast upon1565
impend1674
simmer1703
depend1710
loom1827
to knock about1866
to come up1909
1866 F. Hunt 25 Years Exper. N.Z. ix. 45 My carpet bag I left knocking about amongst them with utmost carelessness.
1870 R. P. Whitworth Martin's Bay Settlement 23/1 I have commenced to make a dingy..out of old boards that are knocking about.
1889 G. B. Shaw in Star 13 May 4/2 There is plenty of musical talent knocking about unused or misdirected.
1897 P. A. Philips Mem. of Past 21 When we did have them they were pretty severe [fires], such as..W. S. Grahame's in Fort Street (any amount of drink knocking about), the fire in High Street.
1902 J. Conrad Typhoon iv. 34 Observing the steady fall of the barometer, Captain MacWhirr thought, ‘There's some dirty weather knocking about.’
1908 W. H. Koebel Anchorage ii. 45 Do you know of a billet knockin' about anywhere that 'ud suit him, boss?
1916 A. Bennett These Twain i. v. 60 ‘There are one or two ordinaries knocking about the place,’ said Edwin, ‘but we haven't got a proper bicycle-house.’
1939 E. M. Forster What I Believe 18 With this type of person knocking about, and constantly crossing one's path if one has eyes to see or hands to feel, the experiment of earthly life cannot be dismised as a failure.
1948 R. Finlayson Tidal Creek i. 17 I'll just see about a box that ought to be knocking about.
5. to knock about with: to be a habitual companion of.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > accompany or associate with [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
to bear (a person) company (also fellowship, etc.)c1225
mella1300
fellowshipa1382
companya1400
accompany1461
to keep company (with)1502
encompanya1513
to keep (a person) company1517
to take repast1517
assist1553
to take up with1570
rempare1581
to go along with1588
amate1590
bear1590
to fall in1593
consort1598
second1600
to walk (also travel) in the way with1611
comitate1632
associate1644
enhaunt1658
join1713
assort1823
sit1828
companionize1870
to take tea with1888
to knock about with1915
tote1977
fere-
1915 T. Burke Nights in Town 323 We talked of Love, Wines, Dinners, Music-halls, of the men we had knocked about with, the girls we had loved.
1924 M. Kennedy Constant Nymph viii. 122 Look at the sort of people the poor child has knocked about with.
= to knock about at Phrasal verbs. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)] > with no fixed aim or wander > idly
roil?c1335
gada1500
stavera1500
vaguea1525
scoterlope1574
idle1599
haika1605
saunter1671
stravaig1801
palmer1805
streel1805
taver1808
traik1818
gander1822
gallivant1823
gilravage1825
project1828
daud1831
meander1831
to knock about1833
to kick about1839
to knock round1848
piroot1858
sashay1865
june1869
tootle1902
slop1907
beetle1919
stooge1941
swan1942
1848 W. T. Thompson Major Jones's Sketches Trav. 8 I'm gwine..to New York,..and Boston and all about thar, and spend the summer until pickin time, nockin round in them big cities, mong them peeple what's so monstrous smart.
1856 C. E. Delong Jrnl. 19 Oct. in Calif. Hist. Soc. Q. (1930) 9 65 Got up late knocked around.
1874 V. Pyke Adventures G. W. Pratt (1890) i. vi. 27 Seems that there's a joke knocking around somewhere.
1884 Marcus Clarke Memor. Vol. 88 I thought it advisable to ‘knock round’ in search of him.
1924 C. Mackenzie Heavenly Ladder iii. 55 Not that I'm against your style of services myself. But most of the people round here haven't knocked around like I have.
1938 G. Greene 19 Stories (1947) 76 He's knocking around somewhere.
1959 P. McCutchan Storm South xiii. 198 Mrs. van Neyland's been a married woman, and she's knocked around.
1. transitive. To refuse, to rebuff. Australian and New Zealand colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > rebuff
rebut1488
reject1529
counterbuff1579
rebuffa1586
repel1593
slighta1616
to blow off1631
squab1812
respue1818
snout1916
stiff-arm1927
to knock back1930
to brush off1941
1930 V. Palmer in Bulletin (Sydney) 19 Feb. 51/1 Not the sort of man we want... I knocked him back.
1939 K. Tennant Foveaux iv. ii. 368 Why, she knocks back the boss where she works, if he gets gay.
1945 L. Glassop We were Rats xviii. 104 Still goin' to keep knockin' back the sheilas?
1948 V. Palmer Golconda xi. 85 Most of them knocked his appeals back lightly and watched the proceedings with tolerant amusement.
1952 J. Cleary Sundowners ii. 108 He wouldn't knock it [sc. money] back if you offered it to him.
1957 ‘N. Culotta’ They're Weird Mob (1958) vi. 86 Never knock back O.P's [sc. other people's smokes].
1969 Private Eye 12 Sept. 14 (caption) Knocking back a free night at the flea-pit too.
1973 Nation Rev. (Melbourne) 24 Aug. 1398/6 Never knock back a dollar, I guess.
2. transitive. To drink (esp. intoxicants) or eat heartily or heavily; to swallow a drink at a gulp. Also in to knock it back. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink deeply or copiously
quaught1530
swinka1563
to drink like a lorda1627
swig1650
slug1856
to knock back1931
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink deeply
swinka1563
swig1682
mop1811
to knock back1931
pound1970
slug1979
slam1982
1931 J. Brophy & E. Partridge Songs & Slang Brit. Soldier: 1914–1918 (ed. 3) 326 Knock It Back, to eat; sometimes, to drink.
1939 Eastbourne Herald 6 May 13/2 Thirsty Eastbourne really does ‘knock back’ thousands of gallons in the course of a year.
1947 ‘A. P. Gaskell’ Big Game 8 ‘Boy oh boy oh boy,’ he chanted, ‘won't I knock back those handles tonight.’
1951 J. B. Priestley Festival at Farbridge iii. ii. 476 That's why he knocked a few back—and he doesn't as a rule.
1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids i. 26 I knocked back the last of my brandy, and went out.
1953 X. Fielding Stronghold iii. iv. 221 I hear you knock it back a bit. Well, so do I.
1957 C. MacInnes City of Spades i. ix. 69 My two friends knocked back their gins.
1957 ‘N. Culotta’ They're Weird Mob (1958) iii. 42 ‘What is this pin one on, Joe?’ ‘Knock one back. Gunna 'ave a drink?’
1961 M. Kelly Spoilt Kill ii. 71 When you were fourteen you knocked back a whole jar..at one sitting.
1968 M. Richler in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories 2nd Ser. 194 Hod was knocking back large snifters of brandy.
3. transitive. To retard, to check. Australian and New Zealand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > hinder in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > hinder or delay
bestayc1330
tarry1340
delaya1393
to put aback1450
to pull backa1470
retard1490
tarde1524
retary1526
to throw back1562
forslow1570
backward1594
detain1600
to set back1600
slug1605
retardate1613
tardya1616
taigle?1635
backen1649
remore1652
remorate1657
to cast back1671
to hold up1887
to knock back1945
1945 J. Pascoe in N.Z. Geographer 1 27 An early winter will knock his flock back.
1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 85 The two sprees had knocked me back considerably [financially].
1. transitive. To strike or fell to the ground with a blow or blows; figurative to overcome, vanquish, cause to succumb. Also, to bring down by a shot, or by artillery, etc., fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > bring to the ground/lay low > knock down
to smite (a person or thing) to the groundc1250
weve13..
pallc1390
to knock downc1450
nolpc1540
call1729
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike severely > so as to knock down
to knock downc1450
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > shoot (a person or thing)
shoot1617
to bird off1688
to knock downa1744
to pick off1745
pop1762
drill1808
plug1833
perforate1838
slap1842
stop1845
pot1860
spot1882
plunk1888
pip1900
souvenir1915
poop1917
spray1922
smoke1926
zap1942
crack1943
pot-shoot1969
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xxxix. 110 Brynge to nouȝt folkes, þat wol haue bateiles. Knocke hem doun in þy miȝt.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iv. vi. 8 Knocke him downe.
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 479 Cut down Hammoks, knock down wooden stanchions.
a1744 W. Byrd Journey Land of Eden in Writings (1901) 311 We pursued our Journey thro' uneven and perplexed Woods, and in the thickest of them had the Fortune to knock down a young Buffalo, 2 Years old.
1787 J. Wolcot Ode upon Ode in Wks. (1812) I. 443 I would rather be knocked down By weight of argument, than weight of Fist.
1809 M. L. Weems Life Gen. F. Marion xi. 98 Many a family goes without dinner unless the father can knock down a squirrel in the woods.
1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell Reminisc. Great Mutiny 261 Mackie, who had been knocked down by the sun the day before and had died that afternoon.
1940 War Illustr. 12 Apr. 366/3 But before the Germans had managed to recover from their surprise that only three British 'planes dared to attack them, the young flight leader had knocked down two of them.
2. To drive (a stake, etc.) into the ground by blows; to fasten (a rivet) by knocking the end flat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by impact or force > by striking or beating
smitec1330
swapa1375
inbeatc1420
possa1425
rushc1440
strike1450
ram1519
pash1530
thwack1566
whip1567
thump1596
lash1597
knocka1616
switcha1625
to knock down1653
to knock in1669
stave1837
whip1868
slog1884
to beat down-
1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 61 If the Plants are..in danger to be shaken by the winds, then knock down a stake close to every one.
1869 E. J. Reed Shipbuilding xvii. 329 The various modes of forming the rivet-point, or, in technical language, of ‘knocking-down’ the rivet.
3. To dispose of (an article) to a bidder at an auction sale by a knock with a hammer or mallet.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > a public sale > sell by public sale [verb (transitive)] > sell by auction
roup1513
to sell at a pike1594
to put, etc., under the spear1600
knocka1626
outcry1676
to cry out1701
cant1720
to knock down1765
auctioneer1785
auction1884
1765 C. Johnstone Chrysal IV. i. xvi. 113 It was..knocked down to the last bidder.
1780 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal iv. i. 43 Here's the family tree, and now you may knock down my ancestors.
1884 Illustr. London News 20 Dec. 603/1 The first Aldine Horace, of 1501..was knocked down for fifteen guineas.
4. To call upon, nominate (for some function, etc.); from the chairman at a dinner, etc., doing this with the knock of a hammer or mallet. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > ordain, prescribe, or appoint > to do something
ordaina1325
disponec1374
rule1448
appoint1496
awarda1538
allot1566
to knock down1759
to set on1852
1759 O. Goldsmith Clubs in Busy Body 13 Oct. 14 The Grand..had knocked down Mr. Spriggins for a song.
1789 G. Parker Life's Painter xiv. 130 He was knocked down for the crap [sc. gallows] the last sessions.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy v The call is with you, Ned,..knock some one down for a song.
5. To summon (a person) downstairs by knocking at his door. (Cf. to knock up at Phrasal verbs) rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > knocking, etc., as signal > knock, etc., as signal [verb (transitive)] > summon (a person) down or out by knocking
to chap out1818
to knock down1881
1881 Athenæum 3 Sept. 303/2 At an early hour..the farmer's wife said to her son, ‘Thomas, go and knock your father down’.
6. To disconnect the parts of (a structure that is ‘knocked together’: see to knock together 3 at Phrasal verbs) by blows; to take to pieces. Cf. knock-down adj. 3, knocked-down adj. at knocked adj. 2. (The opposite of knock up, to knock up 4 at Phrasal verbs.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break down, demolish, or ruin
spillc950
fellOE
to cast downc1230
destroy1297
to turn up?c1335
to throw down1340
to ding downc1380
to break downa1382
subverta1382
underturn1382
to take downc1384
falla1400
to make (a building, etc.) plain (with the earth)a1400
voida1400
brittenc1400
to burst downc1440
to pull downc1450
pluck1481
tumble1487
wreck1510
defacea1513
confound1523
raze1523
arase1530
to beat downc1540
ruinate1548
demolish1560
plane1562
to shovel down1563
race?1567
ruin1585
rape1597
unwall1598
to bluster down16..
raise1603
level1614
debolish1615
unbuilda1616
to make smooth work of1616
slight1640
to knock down1776
squabash1822
collapse1883
to turn over1897
mash1924
rubble1945
to take apart1978
1776 [implied in: Rec. Colony Rhode Island (1862) VII. 571 Shaken or knocked down casks. (at knocked adj. 2)].
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1239/2 A chair complete and box to hold a dozen knocked down.
1945 B. Macdonald Egg & I (1946) xix. 194 The six-hundred-gallon water tank arrived, knocked down and looking disappointingly like a bundle of faggots.
1958 Times Rev. Industry Dec. 65/3 Motor-car body shells..knocked down for export.
1973 Amer. Speech 1969 44 206 Knock down, disassemble freight or merchandise.
7. To lower effectively in amount or degree. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
anitherOE
wanzelOE
lessc1225
slakea1300
littenc1300
aslakec1314
adminisha1325
allayc1330
settle1338
low1340
minisha1382
reprovea1382
abatea1398
rebatea1398
subtlea1398
alaskia1400
forlyten?a1400
imminish14..
lessenc1410
diminish1417
repress?a1425
assuagec1430
scarcec1440
small1440
underslakec1440
alessa1450
debate?c1450
batec1460
decreasec1470
appetisse1474
alow1494
mince1499
perswage?1504
remita1513
inless?1521
attenuate1530
weaken1530
defray1532
mitigate1532
minorate1534
narrow?1548
diminuec1550
extenuate1555
amain1578
exolve1578
base1581
dejecta1586
amoinder1588
faint1598
qualify1604
contract1605
to pull down1607
shrivel1609
to take down1610
disaugment1611
impoverish1611
shrink1628
decoct1629
persway1631
unflame1635
straiten1645
depress1647
reduce1649
detract1654
minuate1657
alloy1661
lower?1662
sinka1684
retreat1690
nip1785
to drive down1840
minify1866
to knock down1867
to damp down1869
scale1887
mute1891
clip1938
to roll back1942
to cut back1943
downscale1945
downrate1958
slim1963
downshift1972
1867 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2nd Ser. 3 ii. 533 A very plentiful season has knocked down prices.
1895 Times 27 Apr. 12/2 When the picture leaves the exhibition, whether it would not be well to ‘knock down’, as they say, those somewhat too brilliant tones.
8. Australian and New Zealand slang. To spend in drink or riot. Hence knocking down n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > waste time or money in drink
drink1492
tipplea1625
wine?1624
to knock down1852
soak1903
1852 in Occas. Papers Univ. Sydney Austral. Lang. Res. Centre (1966) No. 9. 15 They then go ‘upon the burst’ as they call it, and drink until all their earnings are ‘knocked down’.
1861 H. W. Harper Lett. from N.Z. (1914) 65 [Station hands] proceed to ‘knock down their cheque’, giving it to the landlord and bidding him treat all comers as long as it lasts.
1866 Bk. Canterbury Rhymes 19 I knock my earnings down [at the Royal Hotel].
1869 M. Clarke Peripatetic Philosopher (reprint) 80 Knocked down thirteen notes, and went to bed as tight as a fly.
1874 A. Bathgate Colonial Experiences xi. 142 He would get amongst a bad lot and knock down every penny of our hard-earned cash.
1879 J. Grey His Island Home iii. 32/1 They were ‘knocking down’ their cheques and living at the rate of ten thousand a year.
1879 J. Grey His Island Home iii. 32/1 They appear to derive intense satisfaction from the knocking down process until their resources were exhausted.
1884 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Old Melbourne Mem. xiii. 99 They could earn money, and..proceeded to ‘knock down’ the same by means of..alcoholic indulgence.
1884 Marcus Clarke Memor. Vol. 135 At shearing time, when the ‘hands’ knocked down their cheques.
1904 M. Cradock Sport in N.Z. i. i. 10 Their rabbit cheques generally find their way to the nearest public house, to be ‘knocked down’ as soon as received.
1965 J. S. Gunn Terminol. Shearing Industry 1 Knock down, to spend a cheque, usually in one quick celebration.
9. U.S. slang. To appropriate or embezzle (esp. passengers' fares).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > embezzlement or misappropriation > embezzle or misappropriate [verb (transitive)]
purloinc1475
embezzle1585
intervert1600
peculate1715
misappropriate1825
eat1849
to knock downa1854
malversate1881
a1854 J. F. Kelly Humors of Falconbridge (1856) 86 No knocking down, sir!
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career xii. 220 Now, tell a feller, is there any chance to knock down?
1864 T. L. Nichols 40 Years Amer. Life I. 89 The omnibus-drivers were expected to ‘knock down’ a certain proportion of the receipts.
1872 J. D. McCabe Lights & Shadows N.Y. Life xi. 214 In order to make up the deficiency between their actual wages and their necessities, the conductors and drivers have fallen into the habit of appropriating a part of the money received from passengers to their own use... This practice of ‘knocking down’, or appropriating money, begins with the conductor, as he alone receives the money paid for fares.
1882 J. D. McCabe New York 158 The driver of a stage was furnished with a cash-box,..he had frequent opportunities of ‘knocking down’, or appropriating a modest sum to his own use.
1888 Boston Jrnl. 31 Oct. 2/4 The street car conductors..have been ‘knocking down’ from $100 to $200 a day, and several have been arrested.
1892 C. W. Balestier Average Woman He's knocking down fares every day.
1949 ‘J. Evans’ Halo in Brass xx. 172 Some..clerk who was knocking down on the till.
10. intransitive. To deal a knock or blow downwards (e.g. on the floor, to arouse a person below).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > so as to produce a sound > knock > downwards
to knock down1724
1724 R. Wodrow Life J. Wodrow (1828) 166 He had given a groan, and the person in waiting knocked down. When I came up, I observed his lips quivering.
11. passive. Of a ship (see quots. 1891, 1948). U.S.
ΚΠ
1873 G. H. Procter Fisherman's Mem. & Rec. Bk. 128 A severe gale, which knocked the vessel down and nearly swamped her.
1891 H. Patterson Illustr. Naut. Dict. 104 Knocked down, said of a vessel when, by the force of the wind acting upon her sails and spars, she is careened to such an extent that she does not recover herself.
1948 R. de Kerchove Internat. Maritime Dict. 387/1 Knocked-down, the situation of a vessel listed over by wind to such an extent that it does not recover.
12. To earn, get paid. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)] > earn
earneOE
fangOE
i-earnOE
winc1175
getc1300
betravail1393
to knock out1873
to pull downa1902
to knock down1929
pull1937
1929 M. Lief Hangover vi. 100 She and Humphrey rented a cottage in Westport..where authors who knocked down $3,000 for knocking out a short story of 5,000 words, built such magnificent houses.
1949 New Yorker 5 Nov. 76/2 You wanna know hommuch that animal knocks down a week?
1. transitive. To drive or force in by blows or as by blows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by impact or force > by striking or beating
smitec1330
swapa1375
inbeatc1420
possa1425
rushc1440
strike1450
ram1519
pash1530
thwack1566
whip1567
thump1596
lash1597
knocka1616
switcha1625
to knock down1653
to knock in1669
stave1837
whip1868
slog1884
to beat down-
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 87 Put down a piece of Paste-board, and knock it in hard.
1894 T. Hardy Life's Little Ironies 266 They knocked in the victuals and drink till they could hold no more.
2. intransitive (University slang.) To knock so as to gain admission to college after the gate is closed.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > university administration > [verb (intransitive)] > knock to gain admission or exit from college
to knock in1825
to knock out1861
society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > knocking, etc., as signal > knock, etc., as signal [verb (intransitive)] > gain admittance or exit by knocking
to knock in1825
to knock out1861
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 155 Close the oak, Jem, and take care no one knocks in before [etc.].
1829 H. D. Best Personal & Lit. Mem. 103 Mr. Langton, you knock in very often: why do you visit so much out of college?
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. III. viii. 150 There's twelve striking. I must knock in.
1. transitive. To strike off by or as by a blow; also figurative. to knock off a person's head, to ‘beat’ or surpass him.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > strike off with a blow
to smite offa1225
latch1535
wipe1596
to knock offa1616
slat1828
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. v. 286 Knocke off his Manacles. View more context for this quotation
1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities 94 If a parcel of Matter be knockt off from another.
1719 E. Young Busiris ii. 23 Till Death shall knock them [sc. chains] off.
1862 Cornhill Mag. June 655 I could knock his head off in Greek Iambics.
2. To cause to desist or leave off from work; to discharge or dismiss from employment, to ‘lay off’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > cause to desist
ceasec1320
stint1338
stop1393
apausea1555
to knock off1651
surcease1791
to draw up1861
society > occupation and work > work > times or periods of work > work at specific times or periods [verb (transitive)] > stop (work) > cause to stop work
to knock off1651
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > dismiss or discharge
to put awaya1387
discharge1428
dismiss1477
to put out of wages1542
discard1589
to turn away1602
to put off1608
disemploy1619
to pay off1648
to pay off1651
to turn out1667
to turn off1676
quietus1688
strip1756
trundle1794
unshop1839
shopc1840
to lay off1841
sack1841
drop1845
to give (a person) the shoot1846
bag1848
swap1862
fire1879
to knock off1881
bounce1884
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (a person) the boot or the order of the boot1888
bump1899
spear1911
to strike (a medical practitioner, etc.) off the register1911
terminate1920
tramp1941
shitcan1961
pink slip1966
dehire1970
resize1975
to give a person his jotters1990
1651 T. Gataker in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus 195 He returned..to his study, where he sat, unlesse suitors or some other affaires knockt him off.
1881 A. Bathgate Waitaruna xii. 172 [The boss] would growl at the offending shearer and make use of some vague threat of ‘knocking him off’.
1889 Times (Weekly ed.) 13 Dec. 3/2 The men were knocked off earlier.
1896 ‘M. Rutherford’ Clara Hopgood xxvi. 256 As reg'lar as winter comes Longwood is knocked off—no work.
1955 Times 9 June 8/3 The Cunard company put the main restaurant at his service and the staff captain ‘knocked off all the men from their duties’.
3. intransitive. To desist, leave off; to cease from one's work or occupation; slang to die.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)]
i-swikec893
swikec897
atwindc1000
linOE
studegieOE
stintc1175
letc1200
stuttea1225
leavec1225
astint1250
doc1300
finec1300
blina1325
cease1330
stable1377
resta1382
ho1390
to say or cry ho1390
resta1398
astartc1400
discontinuec1425
surcease1428
to let offc1450
resista1475
finish1490
to lay a straw?a1505
to give over1526
succease1551
to put (also pack) up one's pipes1556
end1557
to stay (one's own or another's) hand1560
stick1574
stay1576
to draw bridle1577
to draw rein1577
to set down one's rest1589
overgive1592
absist1614
subsista1639
beholdc1650
unbridle1653
to knock offa1657
acquiesce1659
to set (up) one's rest1663
sista1676
stop1689
to draw rein1725
subside1734
remit1765
to let up1787
to wind (up) one's pirna1835
to cry crack1888
to shut off1896
to pack in1906
to close down1921
to pack up1925
to sign off1929
society > occupation and work > work > times or periods of work > work at specific times or periods [verb (intransitive)] > stop work
to shut (one's) shop-windowc1478
to shut up one's shop1560
unyoke1594
to put up the shutters1877
to shut down1877
strike1890
stand1892
to knock off1916
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V ccxliii, in Poems (1878) IV. 161 The Sun (who quafft French blood, to Harrie's health) knock's of And can noe more.
1688 J. Bunyan Heavenly Foot-man (1886) 159 If thou do not..knock off from following any farther.
a1704 Let. in T. Brown's Wks. (1760) IV. 183 Perverse people..that would not knock off in any reasonable time, but liv'd long, on purpose to spite their relations.
1842 Spirit of Times 4 June 158/2 My tackle being very light I had to humor him, and 'twas full half an hour before I killed him. Knocked off, and set Joe to work to boil rock [i.e. fish].
1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick liv. 281 Do you want to sink the ship, by knocking off at a time like this?
1890 W. C. Russell Ocean Trag. III. xxix. 110 We were forced to knock off through sheer fatigue.
1916 ‘B. Cable’ Doing their Bit iii. 49 The factory was knocking off for dinner as we came away.
1969 M. Crouch Essex ii. 28 One who has just knocked off for his tea-break.
4. transitive. To stop, discontinue, give up (work).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)]
aswikec975
linOE
beleavec1175
forletc1175
i-swikec1175
restc1175
stutte?c1225
lina1300
blinc1314
to give overc1325
to do wayc1350
stintc1366
finisha1375
leavea1375
yleavec1380
to leave offa1382
refuse1389
ceasec1410
resigna1413
respite?a1439
relinquish1454
surcease1464
discontinue1474
unfill1486
supersede1499
desist1509
to have ado?1515
stop1525
to lay aside1530
stay1538
quata1614
to lay away1628
sist1635
quita1642
to throw up1645
to lay by1709
to come off1715
unbuckle1736
peter1753
to knock off1767
stash1794
estop1796
stow1806
cheese1811
to chuck itc1879
douse1887
nark1889
to stop off1891
stay1894
sling1902
can1906
to lay off1908
to pack in1934
to pack up1934
to turn in1938
to break down1941
to tie a can to (or on)1942
to jack in1948
to wrap it up1949
1767 ‘A. Barton’ Disappointment i. i. 10 As for McSnip, he intends to knock off business, home to England and purchase a title.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxiii. 71 After we had knocked off work and cleared up decks for the night.
1884 W. C. Russell Jack's Courtship xvii I heard that you had knocked off the sea some years ago.
1885 R. Buchanan Matt viii He at once knocked off painting for the day.
5. To dispatch, dispose of, put out of hand, accomplish; to complete or do hastily; spec. to write, paint, etc., in a hurried and perfunctory fashion. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)]
deliverc1400
expedite1471
dispatchc1515
jumpa1616
to make wash-work with1637
rattlea1766
to knock off1817
rustle1844
reel1870
zip1891
rush1893
fast forward1982
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)] > do hurriedly and carelessly > make, compile, or concoct
to shuffle up1532
rash1570
huddle1579
to knock upc1580
to clap upa1616
to run up1686
to knock out1856
to knock off1886
whang1935
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or heedless of [verb (transitive)] > perform without accuracy or thoroughness > construct or compile carelessly
to clap upc1530
ruffle1533
huddle1579
to knock off1886
1817 T. L. Peacock Melincourt III. 68 He had..to dispose of..a christening, a marriage, and a funeral; but he would knock them off as fast as he could.
1820 J. W. Croker Let. in S. Smiles Publisher & Friends (1891) II. xxiii. 87 I am anxious to knock off this task whilst..it is fresh in my recollection.
1879 F. W. Robinson Coward Conscience i. xiii If you have any business..with me, the sooner we knock it off the better.
1886 in Amer. Speech (1950) 25 35/1 When he knocked off a few stanzas of poetry.
1925 R. Fry Let. 11 Nov. (1972) II. 584 Derain..lets 'em [sc. dealers] have any old thing, or rather, what's much worse, any new thing which he's knocked off.
1970 W. Garner Puppet-masters xv. 124 Look, you could knock off a few hundred words on Baxx without so much as scratching the surface of your magnum opus.
6. To strike off, deduct from an amount or sum.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > deduction > deduct [verb (transitive)]
abatec1400
rebate1425
batec1440
minishc1483
diminish?1504
detract1509
detray1509
deduct1524
defalkc1540
defalcate1541
subtray1549
derogate1561
discount1561
deduce?1566
substract1592
to strike off1597
reduct1600
subtract1610
subduct1716
to knock off1811
dock1891
shave1961
minus1963
1811 J. Austen Let. 6 June (1995) 193 As you knock off a week from the end of her visit, & Martha rather more from the beginning, the thing is out of the question.
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. ii. 26 Every comfort of life knocked off! Journeys, London, servants, horses, table. View more context for this quotation
1858 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 19 ii. 305 The saltpetre diminished the yield 5 bushels..and the salt..also knocked off 3 bushels.
1869 Bradshaw's Railway Man. 21 384 A great deal is knocked off from our claim against the Grand Trunk.
1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars v. 244 The steward graciously knocked off seventy-five per cent.
1892 Sir W. Grantham in Law Times 94 63/2 Most of the plaintiff's bill was passed by the Taxing Master, and only £63 knocked off.
1926 J. Buchan Dancing Floor i. i. 11 First string of the 'Varsity mile. Believed..to be going to knock five seconds off his last year's time.
1966 Melody Maker 15 Oct. 19 (advt.) Quality instruments at knocked-off prices.
1972 Daily Tel. 30 Mar. 19/2 The gloomy assessment..knocked 12p off ICI's share price in London.
7. Cricket. Of batters, to score the runs requisite for victory, or to oblige (a bowler) to be taken off by scoring heavily from his bowling.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (transitive)] > score runs
fetch1735
run1752
to knock up1837
to knock off1851
to run out1856
to hit off1857
rattle1860
compile1884
to hit up1895
slog1897
1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field ii. 30 If in the field..and trying hard to prevent these few runs being knocked off by the last wickets, I know of no excitement so intense.
1860 Baily's Monthly Mag. Mar. 34 These two gentlemen scored 123 runs between them, knocking off Caffyn, Jackson, Parr, [etc.].
1963 A. Ross Australia 63 18 Pullar and Cowdrey knocked off the 49 required to win without actually being separated.
8. [imperative use of 3.] knock it off!: leave off! stop it!
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > leave off! or stop it!
to do waya1325
stay1601
go and eat coke1669
to leave off1785
whoa1838
drop it!1843
cut1859
turn it up1867
to come off ——1896
to chuck it1901
knock it off!1902
cut it out1903
nix1903
break it down1941
to shove it1941
leave it out!1969
1902 N.Z. Illustr. Mag. 5 488 Knock it off, boys.
1945 D. Dempsey It ain't Brooklyn in Best One-act Plays 1944 28 Will you knock it off, please?
1961 J. Heller Catch-22 (1962) xxvii. 294 ‘Hey, knock it off down there,’ a voice rang out from the far end of the ward. ‘Can't you see we're trying to nap?’
9. slang. To steal, to rob. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)]
pick?c1300
takec1300
fetch1377
bribec1405
usurpc1412
rapc1415
to rap and rendc1415
embezzle1495
lifta1529
pilfer1532
suffurate1542
convey?1545
mill1567
prig1567
strike1567
lag1573
shave1585
knave1601
twitch1607
cly1610
asport1621
pinch1632
snapa1639
nap1665
panyar1681
to carry off1684
to pick up1687
thievea1695
to gipsy away1696
bone1699
make1699
win1699
magg1762
snatch1766
to make off with1768
snavel1795
feck1809
shake1811
nail1819
geach1821
pull1821
to run off1821
smug1825
nick1826
abduct1831
swag1846
nobble1855
reef1859
snig1862
find1865
to pull off1865
cop1879
jump1879
slock1888
swipe1889
snag1895
rip1904
snitch1904
pole1906
glom1907
boost1912
hot-stuff1914
score1914
clifty1918
to knock off1919
snoop1924
heist1930
hoist1931
rabbit1943
to rip off1967
to have off1974
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > rob [verb (transitive)]
reaveeOE
benima1325
berob1340
pelfa1400
distress1490
derob1546
heave1567
shrive1630
strubc1680
spung1719
to do over1785
strong-arm1896
make1926
heist1930
to take off1937
hit1955
to knock off1960
1919 Athenæum 8 Aug. 729/1 A curious term used by a Tommy, in ‘explaining’ his deficiencies of kit, is ‘Someone knocked it off’ for ‘Someone pinched (or made away with) it’.
1925 E. Wallace Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder vi. 224 A big-shouldered man whose speciality was the ‘knocking-off’ of unattended motor-cars.
1928 E. Wallace Gunner ii I got him nine months at the London Sessions for knockin' off motor-cars.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad i. 14 They learn to ‘knock things off’.
1956 C. Willock Death at Flight iv. 42 Mr. Goss had shown himself willing to knock off a pheasant himself.
1959 New Statesman 26 Sept. 404/2 After quietly knocking off a couple of retail shoe chains at the end of 1958, he entered the public takeover lists and won control of a Connoisseur's gobbet—Temperance Billiard Halls.
1960 Observer 24 Jan. 5/2 The boys either knocked off a hut where they knew gelly was kept or straightened a quarry man.
1963 ‘J. Prescot’ Case for Hearing i. 16 Always dropping in on me..with search-warrants..and turning over that place of mine as if they expected to find some knocked-off gear there.
1969 Sunday Truth (Brisbane) 20 July 30/5 Only a few weeks after he finished up at St. Laurence's Christian Brothers College, Luzzcek knocked the place off.
1973 A. Hunter Gently French iii. 24 Just met a bloke..in the nick... Him what was in there for knocking-off cars.
10. slang (originally U.S.). To kill; to murder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > man-killing or homicide > murder or assassination > murder or assassinate [verb (transitive)]
amurderOE
murderc1175
homicidec1470
murdresc1480
murtrish1490
manquell1548
slaughter1582
massacre1591
assassinate1600
remove1609
assassin1620
to do the business for a person1759
Septembrize1794
croak1823
square1888
shift1898
to take out1900
to bump off1907
bump1914
to do in1914
to put out1917
to knock off1919
terminate1920
to give (a person) the works1929
scrag1930
snuff1932
wash1941
waste1964
wipe1968
to terminate with extreme prejudice1969
neutralize1970
snuff1973
stiff1974
1919 E. Streeter Same Old Bill 28 Im goin to rite just as much as I can. Thats partly sos you wont worry an partly so that if I get knocked off you will have something to amuse you in case you go into a convent.
1929 Papers Michigan Acad. Sci., Arts & Lett. 10 304 Knocked off, killed.
1942 E. Paul Narrow Street xxiv. 217 Hitler..ordered the blood purge which knocked off Roehm, Von Schleicher, and others among his former pals.
1943 P. Cheyney You can always Duck iv. 75 A United States Army officer was knocked off in a joint of his off Mount Street.
1948 E. Partridge et al. Dict. Forces' Slang 107 Knock off, to kill.
1959 H. Hobson Mission House Murder xxii. 145 One of my boys..got knocked off— an' nobody does a damn' thing about who knocked him off.
1973 C. Mullard Black Brit. i. ii. 24 In one village a white launched a murder campaign because ‘he liked knocking off blacks’.
11. Underworld slang. To arrest (a person); to raid (an establishment).
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > arrest > [verb (transitive)]
at-holda1230
attacha1325
resta1325
takec1330
arrest1393
restay?a1400
tachec1400
seisinc1425
to take upa1438
stowc1450
seize1471
to lay (also set, clap, etc.) (a person) by the heels?1515
deprehend1532
apprehend1548
nipa1566
upsnatcha1566
finger1572
to make stay of1572
embarge1585
cap1590
reprehend1598
prehenda1605
embar1647
nap1665
nab1686
bone1699
roast1699
do1784
touch1785
pinch1789
to pull up1799
grab1800
nick1806
pull1811
hobble1819
nail1823
nipper1823
bag1824
lag1847
tap1859
snaffle1860
to put the collar on1865
copper1872
to take in1878
lumber1882
to pick up1887
to pull in1893
lift1923
drag1924
to knock off1926
to put the sleeve on1930
bust1940
pop1960
vamp1970
1926 F. D. Wilkinson in Flynn's 6 Feb. 58/1 ‘Willie of Detroit is here and is knocking everybody off.’ (Meaning, arresting them.)
1930 Amer. Mercury Dec. 456/2 Knock off, to raid; to arrest. ‘The feds knock off the scatter.’
1930 G. Smithson Raffles in Real Life xix. 256 About ten days or so after being ‘knocked off’..the Chief Warder came to my cell.
1939 ‘D. Hume’ Heads you Live ii. 24 You..acted as a so-called hostess at the Angel Club in Dean Street for a year before it was knocked off.
1960 J. Stroud Shorn Lamb iii. 33 There was two other boys wiv Egg when you knocked him off, why ain't they 'ere?
1969 R. V. Beste Next Time I'll Pay xi. 157 You're the sort who'd knock off his mother because she hadn't got a lamp on her bike five minutes after lighting up time.
12. slang. To copulate with, to seduce (a woman).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man
jape1382
overliec1400
swivec1405
foilc1440
overlay?a1475
bed1548
possess1592
knock1598
to get one's leg over1599
enjoy1602
poke1602
thrum1611
topa1616
riga1625
swingea1640
jerk1650
night-work1654
wimble1656
roger1699
ruta1706
tail1778
to touch up1785
to get into ——c1890
root1922
to knock up1934
lay1934
pump1937
prong1942
nail1948
to slip (someone) a length1949
to knock off1953
thread1958
stuff1960
tup1970
nut1971
pussy1973
service1973
1953 S. Kauffmann Philanderer viii. 134 Hell, she isn't much,..but she's all there is around here. And if you don't want her, I don't mind knocking her off.
1965 A. Prior Interrogators v. 69 Do you think that young twit Wilkinson is knocking her off?
1970 G. Greer Female Eunuch 265 The vocabulary of impersonal sex is peculiarly desolating. Who wants to..‘knock off a bit? of belly? of crumpet?’
1974 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Oct. 1109/4 Knocking off his best friend's busty wife during boozy sprees on leave in Soho.
13. In machine-knitting (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1927 T. Woodhouse Artificial Silk: Manuf. & Uses 93 The old loop being thus liberated from the needle, is ‘knocked off’ by what is termed a knock-over-bit, so that the old loop joins the previously-made loop of the fabric.
transitive. To drive on or forward by a blow (also figurative); spec. in Rugby: To propel (the ball) with hand or arm in the direction of the adversary's goal (thereby committing an infringement of the rules); also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)]
driveeOE
sendc950
stira1300
enforce1340
swayc1400
compel1447
force1582
impel1611
impulse1611
to set gone?1611
to knock on1642
pulse1666
command1680
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > play rugby football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball
to knock on1642
punt1845
to touch down1859
ground1863
touch1864
scrimmage1871
heel1886
scrum1889
hook1906
tap-kick1960
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. xxi. 353 Loving Subjects..being more kindly united to their Sovereigne then those which are onely knock'd on with fear and forcing.
1660 J. Milton Readie Way Free Commonw. (ed. 2) 73 Shackles, lockt on by pretended law of subjection more intolerable..then those which are knockt on by illegal injurie and violence.
1894 Daily News 7 Sept. 5/1 If a full back ‘knocked on’ when a try was otherwise inevitable.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 12 Dec. 7/3 Hind spoiled a chance of scoring by knocking-on a pass from Jones.
1. transitive. To strike or dash out by a blow; to stun or kill by a blow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > strike out with a blow
latcha1225
slentc1380
to hit out1393
squat?1553
slat1577
to knock outa1616
king1916
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > extraction > extract [verb (transitive)] > strike or knock out
to knock outa1616
rap1795
to hit out1838
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > strike with specific thing [verb (transitive)] > with the hand > with the fist > incapacitate by
to knock outa1616
to knock (also beat, etc.) a person stupid1811
to knock (formerly also hit, etc.) out of time1821
out1896
K.O.1922
kayo1923
the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by blow(s)
to beat (also stone, slay, etc.) to deathOE
to swap to (the) death, of livea1375
to ding to deathc1380
to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)?1562
settle?1611
to bowl (one) to deatha1616
tomahawk1711
stocking1762
out1899
to knock out1903
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. i. 86 Many haue their giddy braynes knockt out . View more context for this quotation
1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera i. x. 15 I shall knock your Brains out if you have any.
1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 102 Knocking the ashes out of his pipe.
1903 Sun (N.Y.) 2 Dec. 1 Scott's reputation is excellent, and the managers fear that he has been knocked out and robbed.
a1918 W. Owen Coll. Poems (1963) 7 Ye get knocked out; else wounded—bad or cushy; Scuppered; or nowt except yer feelin' mushy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > effacement, obliteration > efface, obliterate [verb (transitive)] > by noise
to knock out1574
bleep1973
1574 in G. Peacock Observ. Stat. Univ. Cambr. (1841) App. p. vi If the Father shall upon his Chyldrens Aunswer replie and make an Argument, then the Bedel shall knocke hym out.
3. (See quots., and knock-out adj. and n.)
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > a public sale > sell by public sale [verb (transitive)] > sell by auction > obtain at nominal price and resell
to knock out1876
1876 W. Green & C. Hindley Life & Adventures Cheap Jack 203 The concern would..be ‘knocked out’ at once, that is resold by auction among themselves and the profit divided.
1896 J. S. Farmer Slang Knock-out, a man frequenting auction rooms and joining with others to buy at a nominal price. One of the gang is told off to buy for the rest... At the end of the sale the goods are taken to a near hand public-house, where they are resold or knocked-out among the confederates.
4. figurative. To drive out of the contest; to vanquish, exhaust. Cf. to knock out of time at time n., int., and conj. Phrases 3m(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > soundly
threshc1384
to knock the socks offa1529
thump1597
thrash1609
thwacka1616
capot1649
to beat to snuff1819
to knock into a cocked hat1830
to —— (the) hell out of1833
sledgehammer1834
rout1835
whop1836
skin1838
whip-saw1842
to knock (the) spots off1850
to make mincemeat of1853
to mop (up) the floor with1875
to beat pointless1877
to lick into fits1879
to take apart1880
to knock out1883
wax1884
contund1885
to give (a person) fits1885
to wipe the floor with1887
flatten1892
to knock (someone) for six1902
slaughter1903
slather1910
to hit for six1937
hammer1948
whomp1952
bulldozer1954
zilch1957
shred1966
tank1973
slam-dunk1975
beast1977
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (transitive)] > knock down or out
to knock (formerly also hit, etc.) out of time1821
to send to dorse1822
dorse1825
to knock out1883
to put out1895
stop1895
K.O.1922
kayo1923
starch1930
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 Apr. 4/1 (Farmer) Foxhall..was second favourite for some time, but he has now been knocked out to comparatively long odds.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Apr. 11/2 The light-weight champion ‘knocked out’ his two first opponents.
1894 Daily News 26 Feb. 5/1 Two years ago Aston Villa [football club] knocked out Sunderland.
1900 Daily News 21 Apr. 7/3 You have to have your horses fit, otherwise you knock them out.
5. To make roughly or hastily. (Cf. to knock off 5 at Phrasal verbs) colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)] > do hurriedly and carelessly > make, compile, or concoct
to shuffle up1532
rash1570
huddle1579
to knock upc1580
to clap upa1616
to run up1686
to knock out1856
to knock off1886
whang1935
1856 C. Dickens Let. 19 Jan. (1995) VIII. 30 We may knock out a series of descriptions..without much trouble.
1881 T. Hardy Laodicean II. iii. v. 113 I wish..you could knock out something for her before you leave town.
6. intransitive (University slang.) To gain exit from a college by knocking at the gate after it has been shut.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > university administration > [verb (intransitive)] > knock to gain admission or exit from college
to knock in1825
to knock out1861
society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > knocking, etc., as signal > knock, etc., as signal [verb (intransitive)] > gain admittance or exit by knocking
to knock in1825
to knock out1861
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. III. xii. 231 ‘Hullo!’ he said, getting up; ‘time for me to knock out’.
1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe I. vii. 82 Five out-college men had knocked out at a quarter to three.
7. ‘To lose the scent: said of hounds in fox-hunting’ ( Cent. Dict.).
ΚΠ
1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 187 When the game was up, she soon ‘knocked out’ and went in quest of cold trails.
8. transitive. To earn. Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. slang.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)] > earn
earneOE
fangOE
i-earnOE
winc1175
getc1300
betravail1393
to knock out1873
to pull downa1902
to knock down1929
pull1937
1871 C. L. Money Knocking about in N.Z. ii. 18 They knocked out in this day as much gold as sufficed to make them afterwards two rings.]
1873 V. Pyke Story Wild Will Enderby (ed. 4) i. xiv. 62 Two industrious young men who worked very hard for a bare living—‘just knocking out tucker’, as the phrase went.
1874 V. Pyke Adventures G. W. Pratt 12/2 I can knock out tucker enough for the pair of us.
1920 Sat. Evening Post 27 Mar. 3/2 At that I was knocking out about eighteen hundred dollars per annum selling cigars out of South Bend.
1959 S. J. Baker Drum (1960) ii. 123 Knock out, to earn (a sum of money).
9. transitive. To eliminate, remove forcibly, get rid of, destroy. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > do away with or eradicate
to do awayOE
to do outOE
to put awaya1382
outroot?a1425
to set awayc1430
to set apart1455
roota1500
weed1526
ridc1540
root1565
displace1580
root1582
put1584
eradicate1647
eliminate1650
eruncate1651
to knock out1883
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)]
to bring to noughteOE
forspillc893
fordilghec900
to bring to naughtOE
astryea1200
stroyc1200
forferec1275
misdoa1325
destroyc1330
naught1340
dingc1380
beshenda1400
devoida1400
unshapea1400
to wend downa1400
brittenc1400
unloukc1400
perishc1426
defeat1435
unmake1439
lithc1450
spend1481
kill1530
to shend ofc1540
quade1565
to make away1566
discreate1570
wrake1570
wracka1586
unwork1587
gaster1609
defease1621
unbe1624
uncreate1633
destructa1638
naufragate1648
stifle1725
stramash1788
disannul1794
destructify1841
locust1868
to knock out1944
dick1972
1883 ‘M. Twain’ Life on Mississippi xlvi. 465 The religious feature has been pretty well knocked out of it [sc. Mardi-Gras at New Orleans].
1904 Sun (N.Y.) 5 Aug. 4 In power, the Democrats wouldn't knock out protection if they could.
1927 J. N. McIlwraith Kinsmen at War xvii. 170 I will have to knock that idea out of Lucy's head too, straightway.
1933 F. Baldwin Innocent Bystander (1935) ii. 30 I got a good deal of it knocked out of me.
1944 Return to Attack (Army Board, N.Z.) 15/1 In the Bir el Gubi area the 22nd Armoured Brigade..knocked out forty-five enemy tanks.
1955 Times 28 June 4/4 It is now believed that even if all the major ports of the United Kingdom were knocked out by atomic attack sufficient food for the population could still be passed through minor ports.
1971 Daily Tel. 17 Dec. 1 India claimed to have knocked out forty tanks in a major battle on the Kashmir front.
10. transitive (Founding.) To separate (a flask) from a casting contained inside it, or (a casting) from a flask containing it.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > found or cast (object) > separate casting from mould
strip1884
to knock out1906
1906 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. 70 174 The castings were all made in green sand, and were allowed to cool before being ‘knocked out’, i.e. taken from the sand.
1942 Engineering 6 Mar. 195/2 One difficulty was to get cool sand after the castings had been knocked out.
1955 H. E. Crivan in W. C. Newell Casting of Steel vi. 227 Heavier, dry sand work can be knocked out over a grid using hammers to loosen the sand.
11. to knock oneself out: to make a considerable effort, to apply oneself energetically (to the point of exhaustion).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself [verb (reflexive)] > with strenuous physical effort > to the point of exhaustion
to knock out1936
1936 Mademoiselle Mar. 43/2 All the fancier lassies..are practically knocking themselves out in an effort to get to Hollywood.
1951 A. Green & J. Laurie Show Biz p. xxi They like ‘knocking themselves out’ for Variety.
12. To give (a person) enjoyment, to excite. Often reflexive and in passive. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > affect with pleasurable excitement [verb (transitive)] > give thrill of pleasurable excitement to
dirl1513
slay1863
razzle-dazzle1886
to turn on1903
panic1920
wow1924
kill1938
to knock out1942
fracture1946
gas1947
stoke1963
1942 Amer. Mercury July 95 Knock yourself out: have a good time.
1944 New Yorker 8 July 27/1 There are times when Duke laughs naturally and exuberantly; for example, when the boys..are competing to see who can whistle the lowest note. ‘I knock myself out,’ he says.
1947 Band Leaders & Record Rev. Feb. 20 ‘When I heard it,’ Ella Mae says, ‘it knocked me out.’
1953 D. Wallop Night Light xix. 236 It's pretty hard to be knocked out with a baby when you know its old man is bored with the whole idea.
1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues ii. 36 I used to make them crazy dishes... This used to knock him out. When my time was running out, he made me an offer to stay on and cook for him.
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road iii. iv. 202 A man who knocked himself out every evening and let the others put the quietus to him in the night.
1966 Melody Maker 7 May I only heard half an hour of Ornette but I wasn't knocked out at all.
13. intransitive of an aeroplane: to break down completely, to conk out.
ΚΠ
1916 B. Hall Diary 10 Nov. in B. Hall & J. J. Niles One Man's War (1929) xxvii. 212 All of a sudden, she knocked out and I let her sit out in the open and walked on into camp.
1. transitive. To overthrow by, or as if by, a blow; to prostrate. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm > completely or overthrow
shrenchc897
allayOE
fellOE
quellOE
to bring to the groundc1175
forlesec1200
to lay downa1225
acastc1225
accumberc1275
cumber1303
confoundc1330
overthrowc1375
cumrayc1425
overquell?c1450
overwhelvec1450
to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)?a1500
prostrate1531
quash1556
couch1577
unhorse1577
prosternate1593
overbeata1616
unchariot1715
floor1828
quench1841
to knock over1853
fling1889
to throw down1890
steamroller1912
wipe1972
zonk1973
1814 Suppl. Grose's Prov. Gloss. in Pegge's Anecd. Eng. Lang. (new ed.) 384 To Knock a man over, to knock him down. North.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxix. 285 Such a resemblance..that it completely knocked me over.
1855 W. H. Russell War xxiv. 167 The ‘Sampson’ pitched shell after shell right in among the tents, knocking them over right and left.
1857 Lady Canning in Hare 2 Noble Lives (1893) II. 343 Sunstroke..knocks them over quite suddenly.
1882 W. D. Hay Brighter Britain! I. vii. 184 If a single bushman could not have knocked that tree over before dinner time, he would not have been worth wages.
1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.-E. Afr. 69 That evening two of my Kafirs..were knocked over with fever.
2. intransitive. To succumb; to die. colloquial or slang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
1892 Stevenson in Illustr. London News 9 July 42/1 Captain Randall knocked over with some kind of a fit or stroke.
3. transitive. In warp knitting: to cause (a stitch) to pass over the head of the needle on which it was held.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [verb (transitive)] > knit > processes involved in
purla1825
rib1837
to cast on1840
increase1840
slip1840
turn1846
toe1856
to knock over1875
to cast off1880
land1885
rep1951
raschel1970
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1238/1 Knocking-over bar, the bar against which the loops and fabric are drawn as the needles retreat, so that the loops shall be thrown or knocked over the heads of the needles.
1885 W. T. Rowlett tr. G. Willkomm Technol. Framework Knitting II. iii. 145 These sinkers..must move up and down, and backwards and forwards, so as to sink the thread into loops, bring them forward under the needle beards, land and knock over the old stitches, and..lock in the new stitches, and take them to the back of the needles.
1952 D. F. Paling Warp Knitting Technol. i. 6 The presser is now withdrawn and the needle bar continues its downward motion, thus causing the fabric loops to pass further up the needle beards until finally they are knocked-over the needle heads as the latter pass below the level of the sinkers.
1964 H. Wignall Knitting ii. 28 The old loop is now cast-off or knocked over.
4. transitive (Underworld slang.) To rob (a person), to burgle (a building); to steal (from).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)] > steal from
picka1350
lifta1529
filch1567
purloinc1571
prowl1603
touch1631
pinch1632
to pick up1687
to speak with ——1725
knock1767
shab1787
jump1789
to speak to ——1800
shake1811
spice1819
sting1819
tap1879
to knock over1928
1928 Detective Fiction Weekly 7 June 52/2 I just got knocked over for that wad we jest lifted... My pocket was picked... I was tapped, touched, if that's any plainer.
1932 Detective Fiction Weekly 6 Feb. 129/2 I ain't knocked nothin' over for some little time now.
1937 C. R. Cooper Here's to Crime iv. 89 There's the real fun of bank-robbing—running the roads. Old Harve used to love it. I've seen him run roads when he had no intention of ever knocking over a can.
1940 Illustr. London News 26 Oct. 548/2 The job looks easy enough—a big hotel at Tropico Springs that any fool could ‘knock over’.
1941 K. Tennant Battlers i. 9 Life ‘on the track’ was not so bad, with good places to camp and ‘cockies’ sheep to knock over.
1. transitive. To drive or bring into collision or contact.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge upon [verb (transitive)] > cause to impinge > bring into collision
smitea1398
to knock together1398
to strike together1398
collide1621
1398 [implied in: J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) vii. v. lf. 49/2 Grysbating and knokking togedres of teeþ. (at knocking n. 1b)].
1610 Bible (Douay) II. Jer. li. 20 Thou doest knocke together the vessels of warre.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. i. 110 Let vs knog our praines together to be reuenge on..the Host of the Garter. View more context for this quotation
2. intransitive. To come into collision.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > collide
hurtle1340
to strike together1340
thrusta1400
fray1483
concura1522
shock1575
to knock together1641
intershock1650
bulgea1676
collide1700
rencounter1712
clash1715
ding1874
bonk1947
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper iii. 209 Two pots floting upon a pond,..with this word, If we knock together, we sink together.
a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 44 Our heads knockt together.
3. transitive. To put together, or construct, hastily, rudely, as for a temporary purpose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > construct > patch together
patcha1529
to shuffle up1532
rash1570
bepiece1578
cobble1589
consarcinate1610
to clap upa1616
clap1649
to knock up1683
patchwork1856
to fadge up1863
to knock together1874
fake1879
1874 F. W. Farrar Life Christ (1894) 612 It [the Cross] would..be..knocked together in the rudest fashion.
1893 K. L. Bates Eng. Relig. Drama 226 A temporary stage has been roughly knocked together.
intransitive. Short for to knock under board, under (the) table at sense 5c. To acknowledge oneself beaten; to give in, yield, submit, ‘knuckle under’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > give way or give in
benda1400
sink?a1513
to give over1530
to cry creak?1562
yield1576
to hold up1596
succumb1604
to give in1616
to hoist, lower, strike the topsaila1629
to cry cravena1634
to give up or cross the cudgels1654
incumb1656
to fall in1667
to knock under1670
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
chuck up (the sponge)1864
to throw in one's hand1893
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to drop one's bundle1915
to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel1915
to buckle up1927
1670 Merry Drollery ii. Capt. Hick 288 He..Made the wits at the board to knock under.
1684–94 tr. Plutarch Morals (1718) III. 219 He knocked under presently, and a single glass dozed him.
1782 F. Burney Diary 10 Nov. (1842) II. 180 Is not this triumph for me..? Pray let my daddy Crisp hear it, and knock under.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond III. i. 4 When he heard this news..Colonel Esmond knocked under to his fate, and resolved to surrender his sword.
1887 H. R. Haggard Jess xxvii. 254 Our government is not going to knock under because it has suffered a few reverses.
1. transitive. To drive upwards, or fasten up, by knocking; spec. in Bookbinding, etc. to make even the edges of (a pile of loose sheets) by striking them on a table; in Bootmaking, to cut or flatten the edges of the upper after its attachment to the insole.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > fasten by striking
to knock up1660
society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > bind [verb (transitive)] > other processes
to knock up1660
glair1755
board1813
lace1818
crop1824
beback1858
plough1873
cord1876
to throw out1880
guillotine1896
pull1901
reback1901
super1914
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > carry out other processes
coupa1300
foot1465
unsole1598
close1801
galosha1817
top-piece1830
tree1856
sprig1885
knife1888
to knock up1905
spring1905
1660 S. Pepys Diary 30 Jan. (1970) I. 33 Knocking up nails for my hats and cloaks.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 348 Having thus Gathered one Book, he Knocks it up.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. Dict. 382 Knock up a Letter,..a Letter may be worn so low that it will not Print well..: The Workman then..beats lightly upon the Foot of the Shank, till he have battered Mettle enough out of the Shank, to raise it higher against Paper.
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 71 Knock up, to make the edges of a heap of paper straight and square by knocking up to one edge.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 30 Oct. 7/3 A mechanical device for trimming off the surplus material from the lasted boot before it is ‘knocked up’, and a machine for the ‘knocking-up’ process itself, the latter guaranteed to ‘knock-up’ between 400 and 500 pairs of boots per week.
2. intransitive. To be driven up so as to strike something. to knock up against, to come into collision with; figurative to meet with, come across, encounter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience
ymetec893
findeOE
meetOE
counterc1325
overtakec1390
limp?a1400
tidea1400
runa1450
to fall with ——?c1475
onlightc1475
recounterc1485
recount1490
to come in witha1500
occur1531
to fall on ——1533
to fall upon ——1533
beshine1574
rencontre1582
entertain1591
cope with1594
happen1594
tocome1596
incur1599
forgather1600
thwart1601
to fall in1675
cross1684
to come across ——1738
to cross upon (or on)1748
to fall across ——1760
experience1786
to drop in1802
encounter1814
to come upon ——1820
to run against ——1821
to come in contact with1862
to run across ——1864
to knock or run up against1886
to knock up against1887
the world > movement > impelling or driving > [verb (intransitive)] > be driven up
to knock up1887
1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 264 When Montaigne was in Rome..he complained bitterly that he was always knocking up against his own countrymen.
1895 Times (Weekly ed.) 27 Dec. 1034/3 One can't remember all the people one knocks up against in one's holiday-making.
1898 Daily News 24 Nov. 7/2 The smack eventually knocked up high on the shore under the cliffs.
3. transitive. To make up (hastily or off-hand), to arrange summarily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)] > do hurriedly and carelessly > make, compile, or concoct
to shuffle up1532
rash1570
huddle1579
to knock upc1580
to clap upa1616
to run up1686
to knock out1856
to knock off1886
whang1935
c1580 tr. Bugbears i. iii, in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1897) 98 We wile knocke vp this maryage.
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 138 A match was knocked up betwixt Dogherty..and a man named Burn.
1852 H. Rogers Eclipse of Faith 167 This gentleman himself, with whom Harrington,..has knocked up an acquaintance.
1872 F. W. Robinson Coward Conscience i. viii Why didn't they knock up a match between you and Ursula?
4. To put together hastily; = to knock together 3 at Phrasal verbs. Also, to prepare (food) quickly (U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > construct > patch together
patcha1529
to shuffle up1532
rash1570
bepiece1578
cobble1589
consarcinate1610
to clap upa1616
clap1649
to knock up1683
patchwork1856
to fadge up1863
to knock together1874
fake1879
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > prepare food [verb (transitive)] > quickly
to toss up1705
to knock up1869
to throw together1884
whang1980
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 310 The Balls are well Knockt up, when the Wooll is equally dispersed about all the Sides.
1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 12 Oct. 642/2 The carpenters that knock up our hustings.
1850 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 11 i. 271 A range of farm buildings can be roughly knocked up.
1869 L. M. Alcott Little Women II. v. 61 Don't cry, dear, but just exert yourself a bit, and knock us up something to eat.
1890 Harper's Mag. May 894/2 I jest killed a chicken, and knocked up a few biscuit.
1931 H. Nicolson Diary 14 Aug. (1966) 87 He has got out several tenders for printing... He and Joseph have..knocked up a dummy lay-out.
1967 Official Jrnl. Patents, Trade Marks & Designs (Austral.) 37 1538/2 Plumbing means can be purchased ready made by factories whereas they once might have to be ‘knocked up’..from basic materials.
1972 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 4 Mar. 21/2 They will knock you up a meal to hold you through the coldest day's fishing or wildfowling.
5. To get or accumulate by labour or exertion; spec. in Cricket, to run up (a score), make (so many runs) by striking the ball. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (transitive)] > score runs
fetch1735
run1752
to knock up1837
to knock off1851
to run out1856
to hit off1857
rattle1860
compile1884
to hit up1895
slog1897
1837 N. Whittock et al. Compl. Bk. Trades (1842) 360 [He] obtains almost full employment,..and ‘knocks’ up £3 or £4 or more weekly.
1860 Baily's Monthly Mag. Oct. 41 Tinley in a trice knocked up 8.
1888 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 10 Dec. (Farmer) With only 29 to win, White at his next attempt knocked up the necessary item.
1891 Times 12 Oct. 11/5 The Englishmen..knocked up 305 runs before their innings closed.
1955 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. No. 24. 37 This adds up to over $1500 per week which must be knocked up—just to meet operating expenses.
6. To arouse by knocking at the door. (This sense is not current in the U.S.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > state of being awake > wake or rouse [verb (transitive)] > other ways of rousing
braidc1400
shake1530
alarm1650
disentrance1663
to knock up1663
knock1706
row1789
cold-pig1834
hullabaloo1936
1663 S. Pepys Diary 11 Sept. (1971) IV. 304 This morning, about 2 or 3 a-clock, knocked up in our backyard..I find it was the Constable and his watch.
1737 A. Pope Epist. of Horace ii. i. 10 Time was, a sober Englishman wou'd knock His servants up, and rise by five a clock.
1853 W. M. Thackeray Eng. Humourists iii. 114 They knock up the surgeon.
1973 National Observer (U.S.) 3 Feb. 7/1 Fielding's guide-book considerately explains that a male host may quite casually tell a female American house guest that he will ‘knock you up at 7:30 tomorrow morning’. The term, of course, conveys nothing more than a rapping at the door until one is awakened.
7. To overcome or make ill with fatigue; to exhaust, tire out. (Esp. in passive)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (transitive)]
wearyc897
tirea1000
travailc1300
forwearya1325
taryc1375
tarc1440
matec1450
break1483
labour1496
overwearya1500
wear?1507
to wear out, forth1525
fatigate1535
stress1540
overtire1558
forwaste1563
to tire out1563
overwear1578
spend1582
out-tire1596
outwear1596
outweary1596
overspend1596
to toil out1596
attediate1603
bejade1620
lassate1623
harassa1626
overtask1628
tax1672
hag1674
trash1685
hatter1687
overtax1692
fatigue1693
to knock up1740
tire to death1740
overfatigue1741
fag1774
outdo1776
to do over1789
to use up1790
jade1798
overdo1817
frazzlea1825
worry1828
to sew up1837
to wear to death1840
to take it (also a lot, too much, etc.) out of (a person)1847
gruel1850
to stump up1853
exhaust1860
finish1864
peter1869
knacker1886
grind1887
tew1893
crease1925
poop1931
raddle1951
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 167 Where the Horse is young,..it would splint him or knock him up (as we say) if the Rider were to make his Flourishes upon his Back like a Rope-dancer.
1770 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1988) I. 111 Here's a lady who is not at all tired,..& here am I knocked up.
1856 T. A. Trollope Girlhood C. de Medici xvi. 253 He is completely knocked up from over-work.
1883 R. Gower My Reminisc. II. 244 Walter was too knocked up to join those who rode to the grove.
8. intransitive. To become exhausted or tired out; to become unserviceable; to break down.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)]
wearyc890
atirec1000
tirec1000
sowp1513
inweary1611
outwear1614
jade1627
fag1722
to knock up1771
to be sinking1782
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker III. 79 In passing the sands without a guide, his horse had knocked up.
1849 A. Smith Pottleton Legacy (repr.) 255 Every literary man, however great his success, knocks up at last.
1897 A. Beardsley Let. 25 Feb. (1971) 259 I am aghast at the amount of travelling she [sc. his sister Mabel] has to get through before the tour comes to an end. I do hope she won't ‘knock up’ while she is over there.
1941 I. L. Idriess Great Boomerang x. 78 They travelled fast then, taking the chance. But their horses knocked up.
9. transitive. To break up, destroy, put an end to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to
undoc950
shendOE
forfarea1000
endc1000
to do awayOE
aquenchc1175
slayc1175
slayc1175
stathea1200
tinea1300
to-spilla1300
batec1300
bleschea1325
honisha1325
leesea1325
wastec1325
stanch1338
corrumpa1340
destroy1340
to put awayc1350
dissolvec1374
supplanta1382
to-shend1382
aneantizec1384
avoidc1384
to put outa1398
beshenda1400
swelta1400
amortizec1405
distract1413
consumec1425
shelfc1425
abroge1427
downthringc1430
kill1435
poisonc1450
defeat1474
perish1509
to blow away1523
abrogatea1529
to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529
dash?1529
to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531
put in the pot1531
wipea1538
extermine1539
fatec1540
peppera1550
disappoint1563
to put (also set) beside the saddle1563
to cut the throat of1565
to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568
to make a hand of (also on, with)1569
demolish1570
to break the neck of1576
to make shipwreck of1577
spoil1578
to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579
cipher1589
ruinate1590
to cut off by the shins1592
shipwreck1599
exterminate1605
finish1611
damnify1612
ravel1614
braina1616
stagger1629
unrivet1630
consummate1634
pulverizea1640
baffle1649
devil1652
to blow up1660
feague1668
shatter1683
cook1708
to die away1748
to prove fatal (to)1759
to knock up1764
to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834
to put the kibosh on1834
to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835
kibosh1841
to chaw up1843
cooper1851
to jack up1870
scuttle1888
to bugger up1891
jigger1895
torpedo1895
on the fritz1900
to put paid to1901
rot1908
down and out1916
scuppera1918
to put the skids under1918
stonker1919
liquidate1924
to screw up1933
cruel1934
to dig the grave of1934
pox1935
blow1936
to hit for six1937
to piss up1937
to dust off1938
zap1976
1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret i. 22 This plagy peace..has knock'd up all the trade of the Alley.
1776 in New York during Amer. Rev. (1861) 99 The arrival of the fleet, since which almost all business in town is knocked up.
1831 T. De Quincey Dr. Parr in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 77/2 The establishment was knocked up, and clearly from gross defects of management.
10. To make (a woman) pregnant; (less commonly) to have sexual intercourse with (a woman). slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > fecundation or impregnation > [verb (transitive)]
geta1375
to beget with childa1393
impregn?c1550
season1555
enwomb1590
knock1598
with-child1605
fill1607
fertilitate1638
ingravidate1642
impregnate1646
improlificate1646
prolificate1650
pregnant1660
pregnate1686
fecundate1721
fecundify1736
to knock up1813
to put in the family way1898
inseminate1923
to get or put (someone) in the (pudding) club1936
stork1936
to put in the way1960
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man
jape1382
overliec1400
swivec1405
foilc1440
overlay?a1475
bed1548
possess1592
knock1598
to get one's leg over1599
enjoy1602
poke1602
thrum1611
topa1616
riga1625
swingea1640
jerk1650
night-work1654
wimble1656
roger1699
ruta1706
tail1778
to touch up1785
to get into ——c1890
root1922
to knock up1934
lay1934
pump1937
prong1942
nail1948
to slip (someone) a length1949
to knock off1953
thread1958
stuff1960
tup1970
nut1971
pussy1973
service1973
1813 C. Earle Diary 12 Apr. in J. McPhee Pine Barrens (1971) ii. 33 William Mick's widow arrived here in pursuit of J. Mick, who she says has knocked her up.
1836 D. Crockett Exploits & Adventures in Texas vii. 97 Nigger women are knocked down by the auctioneer, and knocked up by the purchaser.
1860 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang (ed. 2) 166 Knocked up. In the United States, amongst females, the phrase is equivalent to being enceinte, so that Englishmen often unconsciously commit themselves when amongst our Yankee cousins.
1925 E. Hemingway In our Time (1926) 165 Hell, no girls get married around here till they're knocked up.
1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer 241 Nearly all the co-eds had been knocked up some time or other.
1952 B. Malamud Natural 133 You haven't knocked up a dame maybe?
1971 H. C. Rae Marksman i. vi. 51 He screwed her, knocked her up first go and..married her..before she could even contemplate abortion.
1973 E. Bullins Theme is Blackness 170 The girls all got knocked-up and set up homes, got married, went on the block or on welfare or turned into booze hounds.
Draft additions March 2009
British. to knock down ginger: to play ‘knock down ginger’ (knock down ginger n. at knock-down adj. and n. Additions). Now chiefly historical. [Origin uncertain: see discussion at knock down ginger n. at knock-down adj. and n. Additions.]
ΚΠ
1912 G. Acorn One of Multitude 49 Our mildest trick was ‘knocking down Ginger’, in other words running through street after street banging the knockers of the houses.
1923 S. Graham Under London 363 It was not amusing now to ‘knock down Ginger’ or throw stones and run away.
1981 T. Morgan in T. Thompson Edwardian Childhoods i. 23 We was always in big trouble for what we called knocking down ginger, you know. Big line of us, knocking at doors and running away.
Draft additions June 2017
chiefly North American. to knock (on) wood: to knock on something made of wood, as a superstitious action to ward off misfortune or bad luck. Hence knock on wood: used as a verbal gambit after an assertion that is considered to invite bad luck or tempt fate in some way. Cf. to touch wood at touch v. Phrases 2f.
ΚΠ
1907 G. W. Know Devel. Relig. Japan i. 43 Primitive religious consciousness, producing particular rites, remains in boys who knock wood, and in adults who are uneasy if they see the moon over the left shoulder.
1914 L. Woolf Wise Virgins ii. 30 I'm very lucky myself—knock on wood.
1936 Crisis Apr. 114/3 Customs..dictated by fear, like knocking on wood,..the number 13, black cats, fortune tellers, card-readers, mascots, etc.
1942 P. Sturges in Four More Screenplays (1995) 537 The next morning she can't remember who she married or where it happened. She knocks wood, hopes for the best and goes to work.
2004 S. Grafton R is for Ricochet (2005) i. 6 Since then, the occupants have fared poorly..except me, knock on wood.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
> see also
also refers to : knock-comb. form
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n.11377
n.21587
n.31573
v.c1000see also